O'Reilly Network Weblogs: Has Steve been body-snatched?

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http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5057

Has Steve been body-snatched?

by Michael Brewer
Jun. 14, 2004
URL: http://macminute.com/2004/06/14/dvd

Has Steve Jobs been a recent victim of the body-snatchers? Steve has spoken in the past about how copy-protection mechanisms do not work, about how they'll never work, and about how the real answer is a social (or economic) answer instead of a technological one. But today we get a Steve that says this?

Jobs even suggested that high-definition DVD burners not be bundled with computers at all -- a scenario he said in an interview was 'extreme' and one that 'I hope we don't have to get to, but it helps to put the issue in perspective.' He said it is up to the tech industry to prove to Hollywood that high-definition content can be adequately protected. In making his argument, Jobs signaled that he is for now siding with Hollywood, rather than Silicon Valley, when it comes to protecting movie content from pirates.

What is he thinking? This doesn't sound like the same old Jobs. Not only is he evangelizing DRM, he's also suggesting hamstringing the Macintosh platform (a platform positioned for content producers) in order to placate the movie-industry. Is this merely shortsightedness from the Pixar CEO or has Steve had a change of heart?

Michael Brewer is a developer based near Charlotte, North Carolina. His interests include web development of various flavors, databases, and Java. One of the off-shoots of these activities is his website Brewed Thoughts.