IP: RE: DVD, ICrave, and cable TV...

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> From: "Rob Raisch" <info () raisch com>
> To: <farber () cis upenn edu>
> Subject: RE: DVD, ICrave, and cable TV...
> Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 12:32:24 -0500
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>
> Dave, It appears this case isn't really about "geographic location" at all.
>
> As I am sure you know, Internet protocol addresses (nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn) contain
> only enough information to route packets through the plethora of
> interconnected networks and do not (or cannot) say much about where a
> particular Internet host is located.  With current addressing and routing
> schemes, we cannot even say where a particular network might exist.  Thus,
> discovering the physical location of a viewer based on any
> network-addressing or routing information cannot work.  As Craig discovered,
> relying on the viewer to provide some uniquely locating information is far
> too open to "spoofing."  So, without the use of a uniquely-identified global
> positioning radio-transponder, locating an arbitrary Internet user in the
> real-world would seem impossible.
>
> This case would appear to be about discovering the appropriate legal
> jurisdiction under which a viewer falls, which seems several orders of
> magnitude more difficult since we lack the two characteristics upon which
> our concept of legal jurisdiction is based: unique personal identity and
> place.
>
> --
> Rob Raisch - lead analyst, raisch.com
> Providing muscular business intelligence