I just read an article today that said a large group if IT companies have banned together to oppose governmnet mandated copyright protections. This group includes Apple Computer, Microsoft, Dell Computer, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and Intel.

Naturally, this upped my spirits. With the amount of collective cash these comapnies have to throw at lobbyists (and with Microsofts ability to weasel out of things), it’s very doubtful that any governmnet mandated DRM would be implemented in any useful form.

I also hold no illusions that any of these companies are actually looking out for the consumer. At least not directly. For instance, the Wintel alliance stands to loose out with government mandated DRM because they are developing the Palladium platform. Many of the other companies listed are also involved in the TCPA initiative. So the governmnet stepping in and saying “do it this way” would make all that research and money spent a waste.

Not that I agree with Palladium or TCPA, but, as the phrase goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.