On Sun, 7 Apr 2002, Alan Cox wrote: Amem, Alan. You have pointed the "logical(soft)" bottom line. In my prior response I've pointed the "hardware" bottom line. They complement each other. > In this case its a logical modern world extension of what Marx realised. > Only its a realisation by large corporates that > > - If they use patents they can own the means of production > completely and shut out the small people Patents can be used to increase the company accounts (assets/balance) thus allowing more "shares" or manipulation of shares values. This is the "financial" importance of "patented" file formats. No doubt. A Patent can make a company "exists" for 'investors'. - If they use libel lawsuits against those who criticise they > own the freedom of speech. Especially if they also own all > the newspapers > - That the critical thing today is owning the means of > distribution. That's ultimately IMHO what the battle over online > music, Microsoft .net and so forth is about. > Amem again. This is the "social" bottom line. > Back relevant to the list its precisely what all the battles about controlling > online video formats is. Whoever owns the format that everyone uses effectively > owns or leases every cinema in town. ...and all sort of video gadgets to come... from "digital" TVs, settop boxes.. to phones and handhelds and whatever. Scaring degree of media manipulation. > Its also why Ogg and the Ogg video work (and VP3 is going LGPL it seems) > is so important. An open patent free standard at least means those who care > and have the knowledge can get media not syndicated by the corporation of > america. > > Alan > With mixed patented hard [e.g. 'tuners'(demodulators)] and soft [e.g. companders like (u-law a-law) and file formats (codecs)] completed 'closed' gadgets can be implemented and the scary goals you've pointed become a plausible reality. Fortunately some alternatives are on the way... including this discussion and the whole efforts on this (and other) groups. Abracos PCastro -- Regards, Eng.Ele. Paulo Castro Home : http://www.momentus.com.br/users/hook/kpackviewer.html PGP : http://www.momentus.com.br/users/hook/PGP-PauloCastro.asc GPG : http://www.momentus.com.br/users/hook/GPG-PauloCastro.asc
