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Well today I see that MS *is* perhaps taking the first step in endorsing Linux by laying the groundwork for a possible port of its MediaPlayer software.

Why would they want to do this -- provide a competitor with such a valuable piece of functionality?

Well the answer to that is simple: Microsoft wants to "own" the digital media marketplace.

The software giant has already invested a huge amount of money in promoting its Windows Media Format (WMF) and the digital rights management (DRM) system that goes with it, and the strategy behind this investment is obvious.

If Microsoft can set and control the standards used for the recording and delivery of digital media through the provision of player software and DRM systems then they will have the movie industry recording industry, and consumers at their mercy.

You won't be able to play a digitally recorded movie or music track without using a device containing their software. Their dominance of the digital media industry could be even greater than their dominance of the desktop.

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However, in order to achieve this total dominance, even Microsoft has to concede that not all players are going to be using MS Windows so the company needs to provide WMF player and DRM code to its competitors.

I'm sure Microsoft is aware that DeCSS (the code which cracked the DVD copy-protection system) only exists is because a Linux user, frustrated that there were no DVD players for his operating system, set about creating his own. The last thing Microsoft wants is for someone to be equally annoyed at being unable to play DRM-protected WMF files on their own Linux box -- right?

The fact that the guy who wrote DeCSS has just been cleared of piracy allegations in respect to this software must also worry Microsoft a lot since it sets a precedent that could see the company powerless to protect its own DRM if they don't go out of their way to make Linux-compatible WMF players readily available.

Microsoft's move to become the sole provider of player/DRM systems for the digital media industry should be ringing alarm bells with both consumers and governments. You only have to contemplate for a moment, the prospect of the RIAA and Microsoft in bed together and multiplying their respective greed to see what I mean.

However, given Microsoft's reputation for dirty-dealing, I wonder if such a relationship might not self-destruct in a most entertaining manner.

Such an alliance could rapidly become the classic "immovable object versus the irresistible force" battle as Microsoft tries to dupe the RIAA into giving up more of its cut while the RIAA lobbies government to introduce anti-Microsoft legislation. Oh what fun!

But hang on a moment -- both Microsoft and the RIAA seem to have forgotten that even their most strenuous efforts at protecting digital media can still be thwarted by a simple cable with 2 RCA connectors on each end and a PC with a sound-card. Oh dear, tripped up by detail eh?

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