Outlook 2003 AKA DRM for eMail

yatsura · 22nd October 2003, 01:34 PM

Hello all,

Since this is my first post and I'm introducing a new thread (how rude of me) a small introduction.

I'm a long time Linux user, about 6 years now.
Work in IT, installing networks,servers,pc,etc for small businesses <100 users. Write software, even documentation (sometimes).

Well that's long enough.

I guess everybody heard about Microsoft new email control features in Outlook.
The BBC been doing a really good job of advertising it. They'll get a
discount on licensing it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3207258.stm

I smugly thought that well you'll need O2003 and Exchange to get this working
and so will the receiver, well it maybe that I'm wrong

"Microsoft says a free viewing program will be available for those who receive
a protected document but are not using Office 2003."

If this comes common place then forget it, the DMCA or (European :
http://www.eurolinux.org/)will not allow any other to read it.

I know what some of you are saying, Yatsura your tired and paranoid. Maybe

I except that big business is likely to resist this on may fronts. The cost of migration for a start.

However, small business will take to this in the droves.

The whole issue of digital rights management doesn't have a known end point or known goal other than protecting intellectual property, which it does mainly through legislation rather than technology.

So should I stop installing Linux servers for my customers, apologise, recommend they found some to install Microsoft SBS and leave IT?

a_unique_person · 22nd October 2003, 04:58 PM

I think the aim is to take on and replace Adobe Acrobat. You will get a free reader, just like you get a free PDF reader.

Underemployed · 23rd October 2003, 12:30 AM

Better a free viewer than having to buy Office to read the damn things, which is pretty much the case now.

Won't the new Office still have the ability to create plain text documents? Or just to turn off the rights management protection? If so then I can't see this as being much of a change for the average user.

22nd October 2003, 01:34 PM	#1
yatsura New Blood Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1	Outlook 2003 AKA DRM for eMail Hello all, Since this is my first post and I'm introducing a new thread (how rude of me) a small introduction. I'm a long time Linux user, about 6 years now. Work in IT, installing networks,servers,pc,etc for small businesses <100 users. Write software, even documentation (sometimes). Well that's long enough. I guess everybody heard about Microsoft new email control features in Outlook. The BBC been doing a really good job of advertising it. They'll get a discount on licensing it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3207258.stm I smugly thought that well you'll need O2003 and Exchange to get this working and so will the receiver, well it maybe that I'm wrong "Microsoft says a free viewing program will be available for those who receive a protected document but are not using Office 2003." If this comes common place then forget it, the DMCA or (European : http://www.eurolinux.org/)will not allow any other to read it. I know what some of you are saying, Yatsura your tired and paranoid. Maybe I except that big business is likely to resist this on may fronts. The cost of migration for a start. However, small business will take to this in the droves. The whole issue of digital rights management doesn't have a known end point or known goal other than protecting intellectual property, which it does mainly through legislation rather than technology. So should I stop installing Linux servers for my customers, apologise, recommend they found some to install Microsoft SBS and leave IT?
yatsura New Blood Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1	__________________ -- Yatsura

22nd October 2003, 04:58 PM	#2
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,322	I think the aim is to take on and replace Adobe Acrobat. You will get a free reader, just like you get a free PDF reader.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

23rd October 2003, 12:30 AM	#3
Underemployed Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 764	Better a free viewer than having to buy Office to read the damn things, which is pretty much the case now. Won't the new Office still have the ability to create plain text documents? Or just to turn off the rights management protection? If so then I can't see this as being much of a change for the average user.
Underemployed Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 764	__________________ There is no punchy, conclusive final sentence for this post.