| The whole "download the patch from another source" thing won't work when the patch itself is set to check for a validated OS. All they have to do is set the encrypted patch to validate your activation code with the MS site before it will install, and send the key to decrypt it at the same time from the MS site. |
Will never happen. You're forgetting not everyone has internet, especially for something like Windows used all over the world, and thus MS can't force people to activate online, and most of the cracks make use of the activate through non-online means anyhow.
| Anyway, get over the idea that "you can get around anything". That is because of the hardware we have now. Within ten years, you won't be able to buy hardware that will allow you to get around it. We are maybe 2 OS releases and 1 processor generation from DRM at the hardware level. |
Ah yes, Intel's nail on their coffin. Unless AMD follows, *then* you have a point. Of course, there's a good chance that China's CPU by that time will actually be of comparable performance, then it's back to square one. Good luck forcing the country with one of the highest piracy rates to accept your idea of IP laws. Then again, it may be possible that it'll basically be a choice between the US's censorship model or China's censorship model, in which case, I'd still probably pick the US's.
| This week there was a consortium on replacing the bios with a new format. Bank on that having DRM abilities. MS has even used the drive to HDTV to force DRM integration into monitors themselves. Play with your cracks and regkeys while you can. |
Can you say imports? Until prices come down to levels reasonable for 3rd world countries, you can't really succeed at global hardware controls, unless you start mass banning hardware imports, which would probably have political and economic repercussions. Big as your economy is, it won't be easy becoming isolated from most of the Asian market.
That, or there's one repressive and efficient world government (can't have black markets and all that). Hmm, 1984 anyone?
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I recall they tried hardware copy protections many many years ago. You had to actually insert a physical key in your computer and all that for the software to run. Don't see that technology around anymore.
