Hmmmm....

"FSFE demands that before purchasing a device, buyers must be informed concisely about the technical measures implemented in this device, as well as the specific usage restrictions and their consequences for the owner."
=> "Not Linux Compatible"

I fear! It's one way to defend your market share when all other measures fail! Surely it is the beginning of the end for MS, how long can this strategy help them?

Maybe FSF or SFC will strike a similar deal and be the key-signing manager that Fedora didn't want to be. But cutting their own groove for captivity, MS may turn out to legitimise the other groove for freedom.

Sam

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 2:50 PM, Matthias Kirschner <mk@fsfe.org> wrote:
I just published an analysis on "Secure Boot":
https://fsfe.org/campaigns/generalpurposecomputing/secure-boot-analysis.en.html

 FSFE's goal is to ensure that the owners of IT devices are always in
 full and sole control of them. This fundamental principle is recently
 being challenged.

 With a function called "Secure Boot", which will be deployed in
 computers starting 2012, manufacturers of IT hardware and software
 components are striving to get into a position where they permanently
 control the IT devices they produce. Hence such devices will be
 "secure" from the manufacturer's perspective, but not necessarily from
 the owner's point of view: The owner can be treated as an adversary.
 By preventing uses of the device which the manufacturer does not
 intend, they can control and limit what a general purpose IT machine
 (e.g. a PC, laptop, netbook) may be used for. In case of IT devices
 with internet access, they can alter these usage restrictions at any
 time without even informing the device owner. As a result, IT
 manufacturers at their will can take away common rights owners of
 products usually receive.

 [...]

Best Regards,
Matthias

--
Matthias Kirschner - FSFE - Fellowship Coordinator, German Coordinator
FSFE, Linienstr. 141, 10115 Berlin, t +49-30-27595290 +49-1577-1780003
Free Software is important to you? Join today! (fsfe.org/join)
Weblog (blogs.fsfe.org/mk) - Contact (fsfe.org/about/kirschner)
_______________________________________________
Discussion mailing list
Discussion@fsfeurope.org
https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion