Remember Lexmark's bullshit DMCA suit against a little company that makes Lexmark-compatible printer supplies? Lexmark asserts that reverse-engineering the signing key in its toner carts is circumventing the "DRM" it uses to control access to its copyrighted printer OS, and that no one should be able to make interoperable cartridges except Lexmark. Yeah, and no one should be able to make shoelaces for Nike shoes except Nike (who should be able to charge a 500% markup on 'em, to boot) (er, shoe). If Lexmark wants to sell more product, then let it devote R&D dollars to making better printers, instead of designing crypto-chips whose only purpose is to let it maintain its monopoly on refills (and fill up the world's landfills). MSN's got a nice editorial on the subject, with an instant poll that's running 96% opposed to Lexmark — g'head and give it a vote.
(Thanks, Cindy!)
