News

Microsoft pledges to explore a ‘copyright cop’ for Zune

5:15 p.m. · May 8, 2008 · by Mike Burr

If you want to listen to some media downloaded via BitTorrent, you probably shouldn’t buy a Zune to play it on. Microsoft has pledged to explore building a ‘copyright cop’ into each of its Zune media players. The content filter would automatically recognize and refuse to play any illegally copied file. With this pledge, Microsoft is seizing the opportunity to secure exclusive rights to properties from companies such as NBC Universal, which has balked at Apple’s refusal to include such protection in their iPod players. Though the idea is at the experimental stages and has been mentioned more in regard to television shows and movies, Microsoft is obviously looking at ways to secure new ground in its large scale download war with Apple. What effect essentially locking the Zune (and the many bugs that follow with security programs) has on Microsoft’s position in the industry remains to be seen. [The New York Times]

Previous · Next