I’m on record saying any type of DRM (Digital Rights Management to the content cartels, Digital Rights Manipulation to users) will bite you in the, er, rear. So the stories about Microsoft’s Digital Rights Manipulation servers failing and stopping legitimate buyers from activating their legal Windows XP and Windows Vista software using the Windows Genuine Advantage service don’t surprise me. I actually expected a meltdown like this before now. Is it sarcastic to congratulate Microsoft for not failing so publicly for this long? Google dropped the hammer on video customers, leaving them without access to content they legally purchased and were promised they “owned” (Gouging by Google). See a trend? If someone else (giant company) controls your access to some type of electronic asset, you don’t really own it, no matter what they tell you. The real owner can cut you off when they decide to
shut down a department (Google) or when they screw up (Microsoft). What if your accounts receivable PC became unusable because Microsoft dropped the ball? Following up Patriotic Telecommuting, the bad news about broadband for rural and even far suburban locations continues to grow (ISPs to rural US: Live with dial-up). This type of situation makes the need for municipalities to control the physical network infrastructure, cable or fiber, like they manage water, sewer, and electrical connections. Cities and towns either install the systems themselves or demand builders make connections in order to receive permits to sell the house. Perhaps I’m confused, but doesn’t each telephone bill still include some vigerish for the Universal Service Fund? Why aren’t we getting universal broadband service?
