Comments on: FAQ: What Microsoft's block of 'American Gladiators' teaches us

Media Center users' prevention from recording NBC shows raises questions about anticopying controls, Hollywood's intentions toward DRM, and Microsoft's relationship with broadcasters.

[brecklundin]

If nothing else this shows that what MS was so adamant in denying, that Vista and probably XP SP3 can shut down your access to content on the whim of the broadcasters/content providers. Who knows where this can end?

Since they are add it why not bring back the Sony Root Kit and just splat it into the system for everyone out there. And one wonders now just how many of these "security holes" were released out the back door at MS in order to cause people to feel scared and move to the supposedly more, ahem, secure Vista.

While I have never been an -nix fan, I am seeing more and more reasonable reasons to make the switch on everything. And I will NOT be installing XP SP3 period as who knows what is really in that alleged "fix" to the OS. IN fact over the past several years I have noticed most "updates" fix nothing but, rather add more restrictive control to the software.

What is next, copies of Windows that only install on the system you bought it with? No more retail copies...every time I read a story like this I am glad I retired early from "the biz". It is simply not worth it anymore. When I began EULA's for software were the "like a book" variety, now? cripes you are lucky to be able to install it on a single system, ever...

Blocking legit access on the whim is completely over the top. And to blame it on the regional/local affiliates is even more egregious FUD. This was a test to see how well it works, pure and simple. Now it will creep into everywhere...soon you will be paying for every time you run your software and every time you play a DVD at home as a standard practice. And everything will be married to a single device...change the device pay for a licence transfer fee and "save" $5 off the original cost.

Sorry for meandering here...but this issue is far more encompassing than simply recording TV shows.

[b8375629]

That's another big reason why I don't own Vista.

You want big brother WGA, guilty until proven innocent DRM and nanny-hold UAC, go for it.

[aceofall84]

People should remember there are two groups at fault here. Microsoft for being stupid enough to add this unnecessay feature and NBC for trying to restrict the content. The best way to fight against this is to boycott the TV shows American Gladiators and Medium. There is a nothing greater than a big drop in the ratings to convince NBC that they are wrong. We have plenty of choices on television, so if you see either of these shows on TV just change the channel. It should work.

[benjaminstraight]

More Vista issues. Grab a ticket and wait in line.