> But don't forget about the main message: Trusted Computing = The End of Free.
>
> I absolutely guarantee you that if Trusted Computing gains a foothold
> in PCs, Linux with either disappear for good or be effectively
> converted into software as proprietary as Microsoft Windows.
>
I think that, while a good rally call, it's a bit to extreme, Linux as
we know it might very well change, but it seems unlikely that "Linux"
will become proprietary. At the worst it'll go fringe and use non-PC
devices. Just my 2 cents
I'm sorry for putting forward such a strong statement without any
facts to back it up. Here are the facts:
*The net effect of Trusted Computing is to allow a single company to
regulate what software may be run on general purpose computers. In a
Trusted Computing future, people who choose to load non-approved
software on their PCs or to disable the TPM chip in their PCs will
have a functionally crippled computer, or possibly a computer that
does not work at all.
*What keeps Linux (or GNU/Linux if you prefer) Free with a capital F
is the license under which it is distributed. The license does this by
insuring all that all users who have a copy of GNU/Linux can:
1. Get the source code.
2. Modify the source code.
3. Redistribute modified copies of the source code.
*However, when binaries produced by compiling modified copies of the
source code either _cannot_ be run or will _cripple_ the system if
run, the benefits provided by the license no longer have the effect of
keeping the software Free.
*So, Linux will remain licensed under the GPLv2 (or, perhaps, some
future FOSS license), but the altered technical environment created by
Trusted Computing will prevent software from being truly Free, no
matter the license. Only kernel binaries approved by the central
authority will work properly, but those kernel binaries may
incorporate restrictions on what the user of the computer may do.
For what it's worth, the Free Software Foundation says the same thing:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.html => "Treacherous
computing puts the existence of free operating systems and free
applications at risk"
WARNING: I ###DO NOT### recommend reading
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.html in order to get
educated about Trusted Computing. When I read it, I feel a subtle
implication that a computer incorporating Trusted Computing technology
is somehow less capable or limited in some way, which is not true. The
network effect created by the presence of TPMs in most PCs is what
will take away your freedom and choice.
Eric
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