Alan Cox files for DRM patent

You have to chuckle. Alan Cox (RedHat Kernel Developer) has just filed a patent for DRM. An interesting move by RedHat and whilst we know it would never fall that way if granted could mean MS and Apple having to remove DRM systems as RedHat have apparently said it will NOT be licensing the rights if granted.


Slashdot on the patent filing

Linux Question Thread on the Filings

The patent application in question


How successful this turns out to be remains to be seen.

Heh...you got me.
I was thinking it was a hole punch for train tickets.

Its a bit more complicated than that. The patent is seems to be about showing a lot of DRM systems to be flawed, this especially relates to false positives and preventing legitimate access. This would include just about all the systems currently in wide spread use.

As with a lot of stories that grow on the web its not totally clear what the plan is here. I guess we will get to hear about it though. Potentially this could cause all sorts of problems to all sorts of companies. If nothing else its another twist in the story... and a chance for those fcuking lawyers to make yet MORE money...

** wanders off muttering random insults about DRM and having not having gone for a career in Law **