The ever-outspoken Linus Torvalds recently spoke his mind on a few tech topics, at the Linux.conf.au conference in Sydney. According to the Linux creator, both DRM and the GPL--current hot-button topics--will amount to little in the grand scheme of things. "I suspect--and I may not be right--(that) when it comes to things like DRM or licensing, people get really very excited about them. People have very strong opinions," Torvalds said. "I think it is going to cause a lot of hot air; it's going to cause a lot of hurt feelings; there (are) going to be a lot of arguments about it. But in practice, will it be a big deal? I suspect it is not going to be that big. But time will tell." Indeed, some studios and record labels have been looking cautiously toward DRM-free downloads [1], in the face of declining sales. Whether or not this is a sign of a shift toward more consumer-friendly digital content remains to be seen. Torvalds, for his part, remains optimistic: "One of the issues I have is that the most important thing is good technology. It's not about being commercial or noncommercial, open-source or closed-source...I also happen to believe that it is the best way to, eventually, get the best end result." 

For more on Linus's outlook:
- see this CNET article [2]