Seems Suse 8.0 also has this restriction. Can anybody confirm about latest versions of other distros?

The larger question though is why this restriction? Any pointers in this area would be great.

Hey Linuxers!

There is an ongoing debate in the cyber community on the TCPA. Originally billed as an anti-piracy tactic, there is, however, apprehension that the TCPA if implemented in computer architecture could undermine the user's right to choose the software they wish to use. This undoubtedly affects FLOSS.

For those interested in more information on this topic, follow this link: http://www.againsttcpa.com/what-is-tcpa.html

Do we do anything about this?

Best wishes,

Clinton Goveas http://www.clintongoveas.com

--- Founder's Club Member :: DistantHost FREE PHP-MySQL Web Hosting http://www.distanthost.com

The question is whether the consumers (apart from USA) would accept such a computer system. Please remember that most of the hardware parts are manufactured by non-US companies at facilities located outside USA. They will definately ensure that there will be non TCPA hardware available.

I also suspect that companies like Microsoft will not allow such a law to be passed if there is any chance of loosing out on lucrative and fast growing markets in Asian countries. In alternate they will use subsidiaries or some other means to provide alternate non TCPA software.

Some time ago Intel came up with an idea of hardware security in some of its chips but the consumer backlash was so swift and heavy that they backed away immediately. The markets in USA are now saturated and american companies need Asian markets to grow and make more profits.

In any case, if TCPA is introduced, more people will switch to FLOSS and run it on non-TCPA hardware (I hope)

Regards Saswata

----- Original Message ----- From: "Clinton Goveas" clinton@clintongoveas.com To: "'GNU/Linux Users Group, Mumbai, India'" linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 5:35 PM Subject: [ILUG-BOM] TCPA: Does it not concern us?

Hey Linuxers!

There is an ongoing debate in the cyber community on the TCPA. Originally billed as an anti-piracy tactic, there is, however, apprehension that the TCPA if implemented in computer architecture could undermine the user's right to choose the software they wish to use. This undoubtedly affects FLOSS.

For those interested in more information on this topic, follow this link: http://www.againsttcpa.com/what-is-tcpa.html

Do we do anything about this?

Best wishes,

Clinton Goveas http://www.clintongoveas.com

---

Founder's Club Member :: DistantHost FREE PHP-MySQL Web Hosting http://www.distanthost.com

-- http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/mailman/listinfo/linuxers

----- Original Message ----- From: "Clinton Goveas" clinton@clintongoveas.com To: "'GNU/Linux Users Group, Mumbai, India'" linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 12:02 AM Subject: RE: [ILUG-BOM] TCPA: Does it not concern us?

Why would Microsoft not benefit from helping introduce this sort of architecture? All their products would definitely be TCPA certified,

Microsoft would benefit only if ALL users moved to TCPA platform. If that happens only in USA, not in Aisa, they are going to be in deep S***. Even in USA, they are already having major problems in moving their customers from the older versions of Windows like Windows NT. The resistance to a new TCPA platform may be higher. The scenario of people simple avoid upgrading hardware and software simply to avoid TCPA is their worst nightmare.

especially since they are members of the committee on TCPA standards. In fact, this is a way they could get back at competition (primarily FLOSS) and practically make them illegal or rather impossible to use.

Again, Only if ALL users moved to it. Even now, microsoft has had to do things they had vowed not to do in order to cater to segments who are not on Windows. Like they have modified Microsoft Exchange in order to allow users on MacOS and Unix to use Microsoft Exchange. This was necessary in order to convince large customers with diverse platforms to use Exchange.

Any way, the rule will be applicable for New pcs. They cant make a law forcing people to throw away their existing hardware. That is where the catch will be.

While Intel hardware is largely manufactured outside the U.S.A due to cost considerations, the design for implementation is from the U.S.A. Once it is implemented in the U.S., it does not take long for such architecture to become globally prevalent.

Intel will use its subsidiaries in China, etc to make not TCPA chips if it comes to that. Besides there are other non-US companies making chips too. Eg. Cyrix is now owned by a Japaneese group. They will not be forced to follow TCPA unless it becames a law in Japan. Implementation of such a law in USA will be the kick start opportunity that Korean companies need to make their own cloned Intel chips......without TCPA. That was a very popular practice in 80s which has now died out because the margins are not that good anymore.

Companies like AMD, etc. will have to follow suit if they want M$ consumers to buy their hardware. Hence, the problem was, and still remains, the prevalent use of M$ software.

Regards Saswata

On Thu, 7 Aug 2003 19:10:29 +0200 Kapil Karekar libre@libretech.com wrote:

| I am using the Debian distribution with linux kernel version | 2.4.20-xfs. Even in Debian the path is /usr/sbin/adduser :-P which is | a perl script. [snip] adduser is just a front end to useradd notthin more thats why it is a script

the configuration file for it is located at /etc/adduser.conf here u can specify how u want the home dirs made etc..etc..