EFF Faults Microsoft @ .NET DEVELOPER'S JOURNAL

EFF Faults Microsoft

EFF Puts an Open Letter to Microsoft's Ballmer on Its Site Complaining That Microsoft Has "Betrayed MSN Music Customers"

By: Maureen O'Gara

May. 3, 2008 02:00 AM

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The Electric Frontier Foundation (EFF) has put an open letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on its site complaining the Microsoft has “betrayed MSN music customers” and urging him to fix the problems Microsoft will cause when it turns off its Music validation servers at the end of August.

It says the move will make it impossible for users to transfer their DRM-protected music files if they buy a new computer or upgrade their operating system or if their disk crashes.

The servers Microsoft’s pulling the plug on simply reauthorize users if they switch equipment.

EFF wants Microsoft to apologize, offer refunds or replacement music files, give users receipts to prove the tunes were legally obtained and publicize the fact widely so people know about it.

EFF also wants Microsoft to drop DRM from its Zune music service.

Microsoft said last week that it was going to deactivate the servers because of the complexity of maintaining the technology.

Microsoft has told people to export their songs to a CD and then recopy them back on to a new computer.

Published May. 3, 2008 — Reads 788
Copyright © 2008 SYS-CON Media. All Rights Reserved.

About Maureen O'Gara
Maureen O'Gara is the Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025.

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