Microsoft denies reports of planned one-play only DVDs
And as fast as you can say “worst idea ever,” Microsoft has denied its existence. As you may recall from an earlier kiosk post, Microsoft has been throwing around the idea of implementing DRM software on special DVDs that can only be played once before they self destruct like in mission impossible. They’re now saying that that was a lie. At least I think that’s what they’re saying…
Here’s the official statement:
“It appears there is considerable confusion coming from [the] article in The Business about features within Windows Media DRM that allow for single-play of promotional digital materials,” a Microsoft spokesperson told me. “This has been an option for content owners to use for some time with the Windows Media format–but not for the MPEG2 format found on DVDs. Windows Media DRM technology allows for a wide range of business models and scenarios, but it’s important to realize that this is at the discretion of the content owner to implement and that the market will dictate whether or not these features are compelling enough for consumers to make a purchase.”
I’ll make another post on the topic as soon as I figure out exactly what the #&$% that was supposed to mean. For now, you can click here for the somewhat fuller report.