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11/01/2003: This is disturbing...
I just read a FAQ on "Trusted Computing" (on a site opposed to its widespread implementation), and it's quite disturbing, and might have dire consequences also for open source software users, as Richard Stallman points out in this article, even more so than the threat of software patents and US style software copyright law being implemented everywhere. (As an aside, currently in Europe you can't patent code and algorithms, since until now the patent law sensibly says "mathematical methods, schemes and rules for mental activity, methods of doing business and programs for computers are not patentable inventions." Unsurprisingly that position finds itself under massive pressure.)
I mean, so far I only thought about it in the context of all those "Digitial Rights Managements" schemes (which are bad enough, especially if you want to do things like, say, play DVDs you bought on a Linux PC). But the implications are far wider, for all kinds of media, including text documents, emails, etc. and free speech in general.
