[geeks] Why MS's Zune product is very scary

[Patrick Giagnocavo]

 From now until Christmas at least, expect a huge amount of press abuot  
the new "iPod killer" from Microsoft called the Zune.

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Zune
http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/music/zunes-big-innovation-viral- 
drm/

(these are the articles I use for reference)

One of the Zune's "features" is that it will automatically wrap DRM  
around any content you share via Zune.

Do people not understand that a DRM system, which wraps DRM around  
every file, gives MS utter and complete control over what you listen  
to?

Think of a commentator, TV/radio/podcast, that has views that are at  
odds with the current views of society or government or a big business,  
whether ultra-left or ultra-right or whatever.

Imagine that said commentator gives away, for free, audio clips of  
their speeches.

IF you use the Zune, these files will automatically be wrapped in DRM,  
and it will be then be up to Microsoft as to whether or not you will be  
allowed to play it, on a piece of hardware that you have already paid  
for.

Does no one see the very scary implications of this in a society that  
has already run amok with politically correct speech codes and thought  
crimes?

Imagine a radio personality who rails against a company that does  
something unethical or illegal.

The company files a suit against the commentator and gets a temporary  
injunction against distributing speeches about that subject by the  
commentator; then they take that injunction to Microsoft, and because  
MS has the *ability* to revoke playback rights, they are required to  
put this list of speeches on their Zune revocation list (I am assuming  
that just like SSL has a certificate revocation list, MS DRM will have  
something similar).

On the next software update, or when Zune connects to update its  
subscription-based licenses, *all copies of the speeches on the list*  
are prevented from being played back.

I suppose I am just an alarmist... I guess this is just a rant.

--Patrick