Microsoft Developing Copyright Filter for Zune, Will Block Pirated Content

Yesterday, NBC jumped aboard Starship Zune after its protracted breakup with iTunes. It's clear why—and going with NBC's pricing was only part of it. Saul at the NYTimes says that Microsoft has agreed to develop a copyright filter that would block pirated content from being played on Zunes. Which is exactly what NBC was demanding from iTunes. Sucks, right? Well NBC's president of digital distribution just thinks you don't know what's good for you:

http://gizmodo.com/388219/microsoft-...irated-content

more reason not to buy a zune, most people pirate music in some form or other so it wouldnt really appeal to a large crowd

How would it detect pirated content?

mcdougall: Expect iTunes to adopt a similar approach once's others follow suite.

How would it work???

uh.... this article had an UPDATE

Just So No One Gets the Wrong Idea. . .

I hope you are all having a great time discovering all the cool stuff in the 2.5 release.

We have seen some chatter in the blogosphere over the last 24 hours around a couple of posts speculating about what Zune may or may not do in terms of putting content filtering features directly into the Zune family of devices in future releases.

We know you guys are following this discussion closely, and wanted to be absolutely clear on this issue:

We have no plans or commitments to implement any new type of content filtering in the Zune devices as part of our content distribution deal with NBC.

We think some folks in the industry were expressing hopes for how the entire industry, not just Microsoft, would come to look at content distribution, and some speculation has ensued. Again, no plans are in place toward this end.

I hope this clears up any confusion on the topic, and that you can now go back to enjoying the spring update :)

Update 2: Saul has since updated the original post with Zune Insider's retort, but he also adds what Microsoft spokesman Adam Sohn told him yesterday when he asked about the copyright stuff:

"I don't think they are wrong, but we are not going to characterize those discussions. We have agreed to work with NBC across a range of topics, and protection of copyrighted material is certainly one of them."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcdougall57

more reason not to buy a zune, most people pirate music in some form or other so it wouldnt really appeal to a large crowd

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But allowing more piracy will not help to stop piracy. I think it was a good decision.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JKKDARK

But allowing more piracy will not help to stop piracy. I think it was a good decision.

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indeed but im sure some 3rd party software will circumvent this such as ephpod

usually pressuring piraters usually makes them come up with craftier ways of getting round a problem

and im wondering how this would be possible to block pirated songs anyway?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcdougall57

indeed but im sure some 3rd party software will circumvent this such as ephpod

usually pressuring piraters usually makes them come up with craftier ways of getting round a problem

and im wondering how this would be possible to block pirated songs anyway?

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The simpilest way would be to not play them, give you a read error or something .