Re: Why DRM exists [was Re: Flame Linus to a crisp!]

[Jamie Lokier]

James Bottomley wrote:
> Obviously, the first judges of the meaning of "novel" and "non-obvious"
> is the patent office.  They do a good job generally, but seem to be
> having difficulty grappling with the considerable body of computing
> knowledge outside the rather limited patent domain.

You forgot about biotech and economic factors.  Obviously it's in
USA's short term economic interest to patent using herbs for medical
purposes, that have been used for 100s or 1000s of years in other
countries.  Even better if you can then use world trade agreements to
litigate against those traditional uses too!

(See also imminent ban of all non-approved (i.e. non-industrial)
medical and nutritional remedies from EU countries).

As with all systems - if some people can get away with something, they
will certainly try!

> Anyone with sufficent resources can pervert any process they set their
> mind to, be it legal or legislative (DMCA anyone?).  The balance in the
> system is the noise made by those affected by this.

Also, those with any semblance of power don't _have_ to bend to the
will of those with resources, but they often seem to do so.

-- Jamie