more on Is Real's 'hacking' of iPod legal?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: L Jean Camp <jean_camp () harvard edu>
Date: August 2, 2004 5:12:54 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: Ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Is Real's 'hacking' of iPod legal?

Dave,

The use of so-called copyright control technologies and indeed security  
technologies have been most valued when the goal is to prevent  
competition.  Printers that "securely" connect to ink cartridges, and  
cars where only the dealership can stop the 'service engine' light are  
the most common example.

Security technology, at its heart a technology of control, is not  
somehow magically immune from economics. Apple wants to provide the  
greatest value in its music network,  make switching unpleasant as  
possible, and prevent competition. So do the mobile companies, the  
landline companies, and event the airlines.

That is why making it illegal to "subvert" " security" technology is  
fundamentally anti-competitive.  We have seen but the beginning of the  
problems with that very bad law.

regards,
Jean

editor of  "The Economics of Information Security"
http://www.springeronline.com/sgw/cda/frontpage/0,10735,4-40356-22 
-33336580-0,00.html

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