Microsoft Media Player "Security Patch" Changes EULA Big Time

[NicColt]

I just saw this on ActiveWin.com

All I can say is I'll be dammed.

===
the End User License Agreement box popped up. Normally I don't even read these things, but this time I did. There was a fairly standard preamble followed by some bullet points; here is the text of the second point:

"Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management ("Secure Content"), Microsoft may provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update."
===

DAMM.... I mean WTF... "automatically downloaded" and "may disable your ability to ... use other software on your computer" I'm not a MS basher but what in the blue hell is this.

 

[grunjee]

Two thumbs down... and one thumb up M$'s a$$.

 

[Shagga]

I feel the anger, oh I feel the anger....and another Lawsuit on the horizon....

Seriously though, although the intent of this is acceptable, I don't like the "automatically downloaded onto your computer" bit. It would be nice sometimes to get a full description of the update b4 you are forced to dl it!

 

[apoppin]

Unfortunately this is the direction MS is headed.

 

[JellyBaby]

Hmm, I thought that was introduced with WMP 8.x but no matter, reminders are always good.

This is child's play compared to what's coming in Win XP's successor codenamed Longhorn. Right now they're only paying lipservice to the possibility of others controlling your PC but Longhorn will actually make it a reality.

 

[apoppin]

"Longhorn" . . . aptly named for a chicken or bull.

 

[duragezic]

Hope they don't include this kind of crap in major updates, such as W2k SP3. Because I wouldn't get this, but I'd want to get SP3 if it comes out. WMP 6.4 all the way anyway. I don't bother with 90% of those stupid updates anyway.

 

[hamburglar]

This tottaly sucks. If i could go back to wma 6.4 i could. But i haven't found a way to do so on windows xp. Anyone able to?

 

[Blayze]

go to start, then run, and type mplayer2

 

[NicColt]

>If i could go back to wma 6.4 i could.

I don't think that this would matter, like eagle may have pointed out, it may be that ANY update either security patch or software or whatever may include this type of EULA

The more serious problem with this is the fact that according to this, MS under ADMIN power can without your knowledge install software or secuirty patches without your knowledge that can make Other software you have like winamp for example not work with media that is protected under DRM

I understand that you do not own software, you license it, but in this case microsoft is NOW telling you that even though you will not use WMP and even though you will use winamp or a third party software to play DRM media, microsoft will not allow it.

This is serious.

I'll give you some future (legal) examples on how a serious impact this could have....

What if mp3's have to be DRM cleared before playing them if they aren't then you can't play them in that Operating System.

So you'll use another OS or Browser......

What if websites you visit require your browser to be DRM approved.

Take anandtech.com for example, what if web adds require anandtech.com to be DRM certified before getting the bigger paying adds. So even if you use another browser or OS, your browser and/or OS would have to be DRM certified before visiting anandtech.

What if you want to visit any type of Official website and you need to be DRM certified ? .... Another OS or broswer won't help you.

What if RIAA pushes this to become law in order to protect copyright.

 

[singh]

Originally posted by: NicColt
>If i could go back to wma 6.4 i could.

I don't think that this would matter, like eagle may have pointed out, it may be that ANY update either security patch or software or whatever may include this type of EULA

The more serious problem with this is the fact that according to this, MS under ADMIN power can without your knowledge install software or secuirty patches without your knowledge that can make Other software you have like winamp for example not work with media that is protected under DRM

I understand that you do not own software, you license it, but in this case microsoft is NOW telling you that even though you will not use WMP and even though you will use winamp or a third party software to play DRM media, microsoft will not allow it.

This is serious.

I'll give you some future (legal) examples on how a serious impact this could have....

What if mp3's have to be DRM cleared before playing them if they aren't then you can't play them in that Operating System.

So you'll use another OS or Browser......

What if websites you visit require your browser to be DRM approved.

Take anandtech.com for example, what if web adds require anandtech.com to be DRM certified before getting the bigger paying adds. So even if you use another browser or OS, your browser and/or OS would have to be DRM certified before visiting anandtech.

What if you want to visit any type of Official website and you need to be DRM certified ? .... Another OS or broswer won't help you.

What if RIAA pushes this to become law in order to protect copyright.

Are you having nightmares or something? OS == programmer's lapdog. Clear?

 

[NicColt]

>Are you having nightmares or something? OS == programmer's lapdog. Clear?

more thread crapping by junior's who have absolutely nothing to bring to the issue.

 

[thornc]

Hello,

I've seen this posted on The Register also. I went ahead and downloaded the patch for WMP6.4 the one NT
uses and my friends it's there in plain language.... they want to control your computer .(period)

Forget about all that TCPA stuff, that's just a show off... they're already doing it, today!

And yes, this will create much noise here in Europe! We don't Senator Fritz here!!!