Firefox Says Yes to DRM
Quintessential open source browser shores up its market share with a step toward the proprietary dark side.
The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the Firefox open source browser, has agreed that Firefox will support the Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) standard, which will enable DRM extensions to control copy-protected video used by vendors such as Netflix. Mozilla has teamed with Adobe to create what they call the Content Decryption Module (CDM), a DRM-based sandbox for playing copy-protected video. The CDM will carry a proprietary software license. Because Firefox is open source, CDM will not ship with the download version of the tool but will be installed as an extension with the user's permission if it is needed to play a video.
Although the decision to support DRM has caused a fire storm within the open source community, Mozilla says its greater fear was that the lack of support for streaming proprietary video was forcing users to adopt other browsers. Understandably, the Free Software Foundation has stated its strong opposition to the decision. According to FSF executive director John Sullivan, "The Free Software Foundation is deeply disappointed in Mozilla's announcement. The decision compromises important principles in order to alleviate misguided fears about loss of browser market share. It allies Mozilla with a company hostile to the free software movement and to Mozilla's fundamental ideals."
Since Firefox is open source code, anyone can modify the code base to remove a features and release a new version. The FSF expects that a new non-EME fork of the Firefox code will appear soon. Of course, the Debian project has already forked the Firefox code to produce the all-free Iceweasel browser, which will undoubtedly refrain from integrating the new DRM components.
Issue 269/2023
Buy this issue as a PDF
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.