[ale] Netflix, etc. on Linux

aaron aaron at pd.org
Thu Oct 1 16:10:17 EDT 2009


On 2009, Oct, 01, , at 8:16 AM, Scott McBrien wrote:
> Netflix uses a Microsost technology called Silverlight.  Apparently
> Novell has created a browser plugin to work on Linux called Moonlight
> or Silvermoon or some such.  So it's out there somewhere.  You could
> also run ie under wine and access the plugin from there, though I'm
> guessing that's not what you want to do.
>
> My guess would be that Roku uses wine or something similar to get the
> Netflix stuff to work.
>
> Scott

To be much more accurate:
Netflix employs a Destructive Restriction Mechanism (DRM) encryption
scheme that has been developed with Mafia$oft and embedded in their
Silverblight viral media player.**

Roku has apparently licen$ed the same DRM encryption scheme in order
to provide support for Netflix movie distributions. Running a GPL OS
(aka Linux) does not require that all software running in the
environment be GPL or free of DRM.  This is why Linux has support
for Flash and proprietary hardware drivers and the like, and is also
why twisted Mafia$oft fraud campaigns demonizing GPL software as
being "viral" are patently absurd and Orwellian.

Mafia$oft has been a leading proponent and implementor of Destructive
Restriction Mechanisms, as they provide a (corrupt) means to expand
their monopoly market control over the computer industry.  The real
intent and market effect of these corporate DRM schemes is that
they destroy both the functionality of, and access to, commodity
hardware, media formats and information for anyone trying to use
any kind of alternative, open or freedom friendly software
technology solutions like Linux.

peace
aaron

====
**Destructive is the appropriate term here, as many of these
Restriction Mechanisms both vandalize the functionality of the
hardware and software systems people have invested in AND decimate
your freedom of speech and rights of fair use. As an example,
check the top Google hit from "Netflix DRM":

<http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/03/netflix-and-hd-a-drm.html>

Note that one of the best ways to protect your rights and your
digital media investments from corporate thug vandalism is by
maintaining the availability of an ANALOG output path for
as many of your video and audio signals as possible.

Old school RULEZ!!   :-)
===

> On Oct 1, 2009, at 1:53 AM, Omar Chanouha <ofosho at gatech.edu> wrote:
>
>> I am hoping someone can shed some light on something for me.
>>
>> If the Roku runs linux, and the Roku plays netflix movies, then why
>> can't any linux distro play netflix movies? I am assuming that the
>> content is DRM via some method, and they do not want to release the
>> code to unDRM it because that would defeat the purpose of the DRM.
>> However, it seems to me that the binary can be included with a linux
>> distro(roku linux) without the code being open source. If I am right,
>> then why don't they release the binary? Also, by MSFT not releasing
>> the binary (or some way for other OSs) to play these movies, is that
>> not an anti-competitive business practice?
>>
>> The thing I really don't get, is why bother? I can torrent any  
>> movie I
>> want in hour, but I would rather pay $20 a month for the convenience
>> of VOD. Anyway, until it runs on linux, i won't touch it. I have made
>> bigger sacrifices than movies for my software freedom, and I don't
>> plan on budging for this nonsense.
>>
>> Sorry for sounding so green, this law stuff makes no sense to me,


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