Microsoft's recently refurbished Zune store
features a lot of NBC content like Heroes and The Office, but it looks like it may have come at what could be a steep price: NBC recently told the New York Times that it's working with Microsoft to develop "copyright filters" for the Zune that would "remove pirated movies and videos." (We'll pause for a moment so you can gape appropriately.) Granted, it's not clear whether NBC wants to actually
delete non-DRM'd media or simply block playback, but apparently the network thinks it's an issue on par with variable pricing, and it's
not in the iTunes Store because Apple refuses to cooperate. Microsoft, on the other hand, is apparently cheerfully working on such a solution, dubbed the "copyright cop," and says that it's sympathetic to NBC's concerns because it also suffers from piracy issues. Sigh. Of course, none of this is new territory for NBC or Microsoft: the two companies are working in similar content filtering systems to be implemented at
the ISP level with AT&T, and NBC and SanDisk are working on a
filter for Sansa players as well. Still, if Microsoft is serious about competing with the iPod, signing up for consumer-hostile DRM systems that actually block playback and potentially delete files just isn't the way to do it -- let's hope this one dies on the vine.
Update: Although a spokesperson told the NYT that Microsoft was working with NBC on anti-piracy efforts, the company is now saying that
it has no plans to implement a "copyright cop" in the Zune, and the Zune Insider blog
confirms. Great, now just cancel the ISP-level filtering system and we'll be all set.
posted May 7th 2008 7:58PM
You don't need Microsoft for ISP-level blocking of pirated content. There are already many companies working on this technology.
Lookup a company called "Audible Magic" - http://www.audiblemagic.com
Crap, I just upgraded to software version 2.5 (how could i be so stupid), oh well, Dr. Strangelove is still playing...for now.
@ All the ChiWax comments:
We're not saying that it's wrong to try to stop piracy. We're saying that it's wrong for a company to make a program that actively hunts for any file that it THINKS is pirated and deletes it or prevents its playback. I agree that it's not wrong for best buy or circuit city to charge me for DVDs I'm buying. However, I would have a problem if they sent armed men to live in my house and actively search 24/7 for anything that THEY thought was illegal and smash it.
What if my DVD copy of Serenity got so scratched up that it wouldn't play (from watching it so much), so I torrented another copy and stuck the DVD in a drawer somewhere. I still own the right to one copy of the DVD, but the copyright cop doesn't know that and would delete it. Microsoft would have effectively stolen my copy of Serenity if they deleted back ups.
It's the torrent part of the equation that they are trying to fix...and you know that. In the end there will be a very fluid network of content providers. I believe even iTunes one day will sell content that works on other devices. It's gonna take forever!!! I get that. But all of them will work together to stop the distribution of ripped DVD content. It will happen...the world is to smart for it not to. I don't think they are targeting recorded content. They are targeting DVD content because ripped versions are in direct competition with content on iTunes, XBOX Live, Zune, and Unbox. This stuff is gonna take years to solve...I don't know why Engadget tried to make it sound like it's gonna happen anytime soon....Q
Wouldn't encrypting files prevent them from being blocked at ISP level since the content is no where near the same?
...and it becomes absolutely clear that they think they deserve everything bought twice. They're to reasonable corporations what pirates are to consumers.
Well Microsoft, your 4% marketshare didn't last long. NO ONE will buy your Zune if theres a piracy filter.
Man, these guys just don't learn. I applaud Apple for standing their ground. How much do they expect people to pay for mediocre, DRM-crippled files anyways?
iTunes has it right. I don't always want a bundle of DRM'd videos, I want cheap, easy-access to movies/tv shows.
I love my zune, and I enjoy the software, but this would force me to uninstall and go elsewhere. I can't handle this kind of thing. So I'm glad they have "no intentions" to do so, or else NBC and Microsoft can shove it.
Piracy will never end! but if your trying to slow it, this is not the way! All that would happen is people wouldnt be able to watch their movie n their Zune for 2 weeks til a hacker cracks it.
What's a 'Zune'?
i see what you did there.
whats a 'Frank Furter'
The day they decide to implement such bull, would be the day I drop every single one of their products. What business of theirs is it to look into every single one of my files and dictate what should happen to them. GTFO. Besides, that'd be a violation of privacy. If it was up to these greedy bastards, they'd charge us for every single breath we take. MS loves charging people over and over again. NBC can go to hell too. The nerve.
I guess this isn't the best time to request Divx support on my Zune?
and that is why i don't even remotely trust Microsoft.
dont they get it? people are poor! if i had to pay for everything i had i would be broke, bored, and pissed.
whatever.
variable pricing, copyright cop, it's all a bunch of crap.
we all know NBC is just looking for any excuse it can to withhold content from iTunes because NBC is scared shitless that Apple will do to the video industry what it did to the music industry. (which is to say, make the labels seem more and more irrelevant, as Apple GIVES THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT as opposed to constantly shitting all over them.)
The Zune is actually trying to compete with the iPod?? I'm not an Apple fan boy, far from it, but seriously...........
FAIL!
Just another opportunity for Engadget to slamming MS, while holding Apple Holier Than Thou...
Makes me want to PUKE!!!
dear engadget reader,
maybe you should have taken two seconds to realize that it's impossible for a piece of software to distinguish between a "pirated" mp3/video file than from a legitamately made one.
dear senai, that is way the new "secure" files will not be MP3, they will be DRMed or be a new file format.
"Granted, it's not clear whether NBC wants to actually delete non-DRM'd media or simply block playback"
except the article talks about non-DRM'd media...
cuz reading is FUN-damental.
Ever hear of watermarking?
And that's one problem I have if any company tries to do this. What will they do to tell if you ripped stuff yourself or downloaded it? They could end up blocking or deleting legit files you have ripped for your own use(not put up on a P2P, just for use on your own devices). If I get blocked from using my own content, I won't be happy!! Hopefully they will can this idea and quick!
what if Apple does the same thing to the Ipod and the Iphone? would that be
ok?
1. yes
2. It would be seen as "the Steve" unfortunately having to bend over backwards for the evil networks. But he will still love us, and Apple will do what it takes to protect us because they love us ever so much.
3. This story may never actually appear and would be promptly buried
haha fred, your sarcastic comment really illustrates how ignorant you are :)
It took me a second to notice salut was calling fred the ignorant one and not 'yomamma', and I still can't believe that he actually made a post like that..
Oh well
WOW! Lets put a few things in perspective.
1 : iTunes gives NBC a potential market of approx 80 million people who currently own a video capable iPod worldwide.
2 : Zune gives NBC a potential market of approx 2 million people (most of whom are kiddies)
3 : Apple's video capable iPhone alone almost has the same potential market for NBC as the Zune does
This means NBC has left one market, to join another that's 40x SMALLER. But is NBC getting 40x more money on each sale? Hmm, I highly doubt it. So what exactly is NBC playing at? Are they just too stubborn for their own good, or are they fooling themselves. I wont be surprised if NBC return to iTunes within 18months.
Let me guess, this 'copyright cop' was the old name, the new name is Windows7
Engadget fix the damn title, the fanboys don't read past it.
So, even though Microsoft denies working to currently implement this with the Zune, we do know for a fact now that NBC is trying to get this kind of thing created by anyone that will let them. I'm happy that Apple and Microsoft, at least, aren't going to help them.
get over it - if you have stolen media, tough fucking luck. besides that, maybe you stupid fanboy kids shouldn't believe everything you read in the "blogosphere", this isn't even fucking true - 90% of this "blogosphere" is written by normal people, expressing their opinions as fact. seriously let reality hit you in the face - piracy is illegal, bloggers about world events are moronic geeks, and microsoft have the office for download. that said, software that deletes or blocks files from being used on the assumption that its pirated is not an effective way to combat piracy - you need to stop it at the source, with either a new distribution model for media, or by crushing every p2p/warez forum available.
Game, Set, Match Apple!
I almost forgot. Attack GE and NBC!
It is very apparent that the people commenting on this do not want a content rich media enviroment in their homes and on-the-go. The only way you can get that is with the content providers getting THEIR way!! The only way to insure that MS and it's partners can provide a content rich media experience is to insure that the content providers are very happy. Meanwhile Apple is telling people that all you need in life is a phone with a little screen and a minimalistic box connected to your HDTV and you are set to go. That's working for Apple. Fine. But the future involves more than your proprietory phones and your minimal capacity boxes. It's years away, but MS has to do all the dirty work ahead of time to make it all come together someday. It's not like any other company is worried about it....especially Apple...and that works for them right now. Even they will join the party when people realize there is more to life than a phone with a little screen and minimal capacity box connected to your tv....Q
On a completely unrelated note, sorta, has anyone had trouble getting to NBC's website recently? My friends and I haven't been able to get to nbc.com for probably a couple of months, but when I tried nbci.com it works fine.
I didn't have the patience to read everyone's comment so I dont know if I am repeating someone but lets look at it this way. Everytime a new encyption comes up, whats the turn-around time for a hack? A week maybe. It doesnt matter how heavy and how sophisticated encryptions become, there will alway be a hack for it. If there isn't I bet you the government would not allow it to be used because we all know that if the government cant spy on everything, then it won't pass throught the FCC or whoever.
LOL, but in all honesty NBC is bitching and complaining because they dont have more money then the other networks and want to find everyway possible to increase their money instead of bringing more shows like Heroes (i havent seen yet due to me missing the entire first season) and The Office. Microsoft is probably just saying ya ya, whatever you say NBC, we are Microsoft so we get the final word on that.
Man thats a lot of writing for a simple comment.
To even contemplate this, to even allow it to be spoken of in connection with their product, Microsoft deserves to lose to Apple.
I call BS on this story. Friends, this is the Internet, and some people do post crap wherever they can.
Think about it from a programmer's perspective - how the hell can you distinguish what's pirated and what isn't?