#5680 HIGH Never A: G1G1 laptops are shipping with "security" (DRM) enabled

[Zarro Boogs per Child]

#5680: G1G1 laptops are shipping with "security" (DRM) enabled
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 Reporter:  gnu                            |       Owner:  wad           
     Type:  defect                         |      Status:  new           
 Priority:  high                           |   Milestone:  Never Assigned
Component:  hardware                       |     Version:                
 Keywords:  DRM, firmware, security, G1G1  |    Verified:  0             
 Blocking:                                 |   Blockedby:                
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 There is no reason to have DRM enabled in the manufacturing tags of G1G1
 laptops, yet they are apparently being shipped this way.  This requires
 each recipient to request a development key before they can run unapproved
 open-source software on their laptop.

 For example, in #4286, Mako stated: "...the anti-theft system will not be
 deployed for the G1G1 laptops...".

 One of the standard problems with DRM is that it creeps from the places
 where it's wanted, into places that don't want it or where the owner
 actively dislikes it.  !TiVo owners periodically report that some TV shows
 are marked as "don't save", despite the avowed intent of that feature to
 be latent and disabled (til later!); see

 http://www.news.com/TiVo-copy-protection-bug-irks-
 users/2100-1041_3-5863529.html?tag=st_lh

 OLPC's firmware "security" was pitched as an "anti-theft" solution, ONLY
 for countries that require a machine stolen from the schools to become a
 brick.  But here it is on laptops bought for individuals, who neither
 asked for nor require "protection" from themselves!  OLPC's DRM can be
 disabled, which makes this non-fatal, but OLPC users should not have to
 jump through that hoop.

 My G1G1 laptops will probably be shipped in late January, and I hope not
 to receive DRM'd units.  I bought these laptops with the expectation and
 assurance that they were at least as open as white-box PC clones that will
 boot whatever software you throw at them.  If this bug is caused by a bad
 manufacturing tag setting at the factory, the fix should be rolled into
 ongoing production.

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Ticket URL: <http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/5680>
One Laptop Per Child <http://dev.laptop.org>
OLPC bug tracking system