Microsoft denies plans for Zune content filter

Shortly after The New York Times reported a future software update for Microsoft's Zune portable media player will block playback of unauthorized copies of copyrighted videos, the software giant denied the charge, insisting on its Zune Insider blog there are no plans to introduce a content lockdown. Earlier this week, Microsoft announced an agreement with content providers including NBC Universal, MTV Networks, Turner Broadcasting and Starz Media to add television series including The Office, Heroes and South Park to its Zune video store; NBC Universal president of digital distribution J.B. Perrette later told the NYT the broadcaster found Zune a more appealing digital platform than Apple's iTunes (which the network ankled in September) because Microsoft will let its content partners determine its own pricing structure, and because Microsoft agreed to develop and install a Zune content filter to remove pirated movies and videos. According to Perrette, the plan is to create "filtering technology that allows for playback of legitimately purchased content versus non-legitimately purchased content."

But on Wednesday, Microsoft's Cesar Menendez--a member of the Zune team--responded to the New York Times report on Zune Insider, writing the company "wanted to be absolutely clear on this issue: We have no plans or commitments to implement any new type of content filtering in the Zune devices as part of our content distribution deal with NBC. We think some folks in the industry were expressing hopes for how the entire industry, not just Microsoft, would come to look at content distribution, and some speculation has ensued. Again, no plans are in place toward this end." NBC Universal has yet to respond.

For more on the Zune controversy:
- read this Zune Insider post

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