posted on January 22, 2003 03:18:05 PM new
For us users of MS Operating Systems (MSOS or simply OS) and you have noticed a new download from Microsoft, you may wish to be aware of a sitation that I have discovered.
When you logon to the Windows Update web site and choose to download the 9.x Media Player, Microsoft first opens up the End User Licence Agreement (EULA) as per usual with the usual wording and nothing more.
HOWEVER . . .
Once you have downloaded the Media Player and are abou to install it onto your pc, a different EULA pops up -- this time with some important information that you ought to be made aware of. Here is the pertinent section:
* Content providers are using the digital rights management technology contained in the OS Components ("DRM" to protect the integrity of their content ("Secure Content" so that their intellectual property, including copyright, in such content is not misappropriated. Portions of the OS Components and third party applications such as media players use DRM to play Secure Content ("DRM Software". If the DRM Software’s security has been compromised, owners of Secure Content ("Secure Content Owners" may request that Microsoft revoke the DRM Software’s right to copy, display and/or play Secure Content. Revocation does not alter the DRM Software’s ability to play unprotected content. A list of revoked DRM Software is sent to your computer whenever you download a license for Secure Content from the Internet. You therefore agree that Microsoft may, in conjunction with such license, also download revocation lists onto your computer on behalf of Secure Content Owners. Microsoft will not retrieve any personally identifiable information, or any other information, from your computer by downloading such revocation lists. Secure Content Owners may also require you to upgrade some of the DRM components in the OS Components ("DRM Upgrades" before accessing their content. When you attempt to play such content, Microsoft DRM Software will notify you that a DRM Upgrade is required and then ask for your consent before the DRM Upgrade is downloaded. Third party DRM Software may do the same. If you decline the upgrade, you will not be able to access content that requires the DRM Upgrade; however, you will still be able to access unprotected content and Secure Content that does not require the upgrade.
In other words, Media Player will now keep up an uptodate list of "Not Allowed" content and you give them every right to delete from your computer - without notification to you, anything that is on that list.
Obviously, if you are not pirating software, music, or video, you need not worry about it at this point.
But two things do concern me:
1) How many people actually take the time to read just the first EULA, let alone take them time to go sifting through the second one later on? While this may be an oversight by Microsoft and the web site, I rather doubt it as they are not any backwoods firm!
2) That if we allow Microsoft to be used as a the Police, what will come next? remeber -- these things are ALWAYS setting a prescedence for later legal matters! In my opinion, this is giving the proverbial "inch" and the "mile" is just around the corner with Homeland Security and the Neighborhood Watch!
So, whether you pirate or not, you ought ot be concerned!
P.s. Yes, they are even making your Internet Servoce Providers spy on you! Yesterday's ruling that Verizon had to spy on users to keep copywritten content from being shared is a landmark case as well! As I already stated, no one is argueing that we ought to be able to use the Internet for commiting any crimes of any sort, but the danger here is that your ISP is being co-opted into spying on each and every one of us and to police us from wrongdoing! Scary stuff!
posted on January 22, 2003 06:27:11 PM new
The moral is: use RealPlayer instead of Windows Media Player
Too late for me, though. When I bought my new computer in November, I transferred over my MP3 files. I thought at first that I'd made a mistake & not transferred some of the songs (& old PC was gone by time I noticed)...but I've been wondering if the files were erased by the Windows media player that came with the PC before I even tried to play them. Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 22, 2003 06:57:36 PM new
Windows media player doesn't conform to ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance)industry standards, that's why it is extremely rare to find a site with content which ONLY requires WMP..plus, it's quality stinks compared to Real and Quicktime...both of which are free downloads,both available for Windows and also support ISMA open standards.The ISO (International Organization for Standards) has endorsed Quicktime as the standard for MPEG-4, and Real has announced that their players will conform...couple all of that with M$'s intrusive, bullying licensing practices,and There's no reason to use it.
[ edited by profe51 on Jan 22, 2003 06:59 PM ]
to protect the integrity of their content ("Secure Content"