The Digital Media Project

  

Source

Martin Springer

Title

TRU #17 to be ignorant of the usage

No.

040111springer01

 

Name:

Martin Springer

Affiliation/additional information:

Active Contributor, Luebeck, Germany

Date submitted:

2004/01/11

 

#

Criteria

Description

1.

Name of TRU

TRU to be ignorant of the usage

2.

Summary description of TRU

The exchange of information and physical goods between people (e.g. Rights holders and End-users) who are separated by space and time is enabled by an infrastructure to store (time-shift) and forward (space-shift). Acting as middlemen, the providers of the infrastructure and the technology to exchange information and physical goods enjoy the TRU to be ignorant of the usage of their services.

3.

Use records of TRU

Throughout history of mankind, "middlemen" provided the insfrastructure and the technology for the exchange of information and physical goods between people. Some examples:

  • Infrastructure providers for information storage and distribution
    • postal service: The postal service enjoys the TRU of being ignorant of the content of letters and parcels they transport. They cannot be made culpable for crimes committed by their users using their service. Letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure and cannot be opened without a search warrant.
    • libraries: Libraries enjoy the TRU of being ignorant of the content of the books, records and information sources they provide and the usage of the information contained therein. Thus they are able to offer unhindered public access to information.
    • network providers: Network providers enjoy the TRU of being ignorant of the content of the data packets exchanged by their users and thus are able to provide internet services.
  • Technology providers
    • coach industry: The car industry enjoys the TRU of being ignorant of their customers committing suicide by driving too fast and thus are able to sell cars that go 160 mph.
    • printing industry: The printing industry enjoys the TRU of being ignorant of the content of the books they print for publishers.
    • computer industry: The computer industry enjoys the TRU of being ignorant of the usage of their computers and storage media by their customers and thus are able to sell computers that can be fully controlled by the users.

4.

  Nature of TRU

Legally supported

5.

Benefits of TRU

Mankind benefits by this TRU, since private exchange of information and physical goods and open access to information would be impossible without it. Freedom of communication and open access to information is the key to the Enlightenment of society and the progress of science.

Systems wishing to keep private communication between people under surveillance are negatively affected by this TRU. Since private communication also includes the possibility of illegal activities, the free exchange of information can have a negative effect (e.g. on industries who rely on selling information).

6.

Possible digital support

  • Secure e-mail
  • VPN
  • Digital libraries

7.

Requirements

  • Strong cryptography for secure communication between users (including Rights-holders)
  • Hardware/ software platform trusted by users (including Rights-holders)
  • All encryption keys of End-user devices controlled by the End-users
  • No software patents

8.

References