Microsoft confirms Windows comply with the broadcast flag

Microsoft acknowledged that Windows Media centres to prevent users to record television programs at the request of a broadcaster.

Technologies included in Microsoft Windows-based rules formulated by the (Federal Communications Commission), "a spokesperson from Microsoft wrote in an e-mail to CNET News.com. "Under these regulations, Windows Media Center fully supports the flags used by broadcasters and content owners to determine how their content is distributed and consumed."

The software was undertaken in response to questions about why some users of Windows Vista Media Center were prevented from registering NBC Universal television, America and medium Gladiator on Monday evening.

The "rules", in which the spokesperson is apparently a reference shall be those proposed by the FCC, which would require software and hardware to honour "broadcast flags". The flags are code that broadcasters can insert into the data stream television programs generally require that restrictions on the recording shows. What she does not say is that the "rules" are not rules at all.

Courts have struck the FCC's proposal of 2005, saying that the regulator did not have the power to say how electronics makers to interpret the signals they receive. Since then, Microsoft and other manufacturers have chosen the option of whether to honor the flags.

News that the world's largest software maker has voluntarily agreed to help broadcasters control the recording of their performances is bound to outrage fans digital video because it represents the greatest threat to the practice known as the name of time passing since the FCC attempted to demand respect for the flag.

"Microsoft has made the requirements of broadcasters over what consumers want," said Danny O'Brien, a staff member at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an advocacy group for Internet users that is to seek to block Monday. "They have imposed restrictions far beyond what the law requires. Customers need to know who is listening to Microsoft and how it affects their equipment. At present, the only way to know what customers Microsoft has decided to technology when they bought all of a sudden no longer works. Microsoft needs to come and say to its own customers regard it has made. "

The question of whether NBC Universal has issued an American flag for Gladiator has not yet been answered. NBC Universal said last week that he needed time to study the issue. Spokesman Microsoft does not provide all the information that NBC Universal activated a flag. The software has, however, informs us that accidents occur.

"In some cases, the content May falsely be reported in the dissemination, May that affect the consumer TV experience," spokesman for Microsoft wrote. "The success of the whole chain of distribution is dependent on all parties concerned in maintaining the necessary checks and quality control so that the code is properly applied so as to avoid any unexpected result."