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Does Microsoft's Zune raise copyright issues?
Zune is Microsoft's digital portable media player and online music store. To give you some background:
- Zune is different from other portable media players b/c it has Wi-Fi communication that allows for limited sharing of songs, recordings, playlists and pictures with other Zunes.
- Audio files transferred from one Zune to another can be played for up to three days or three plays, whichever comes first, after which it expires unless purchased or downloaded via the Zune Marketplace online.
- Recipients cannot re-send music or audio files that they have received via the sharing feature.
- Many DRM-protected songs are ineligible for sharing, as record companies can flag songs from the Zune Marketplace as non-distributable.
The commentary attached raises issues about fair use concerning the features of Zune. I don't own a Zune, so I haven't experienced first hand how it works. But if you own one, please feel free to give your thoughts.
http://www.wyman.us/main/2006/09/microsoft_hubri.html
Posted by at February 17, 2007 5:48 PM
in Current Events
