Microsoft files patent for device that enforces licenses through visual surveillance

[xelosia]

Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that could potentially use a camera to determine whether you're breaking its content-viewing rules or not. US Patent Application 20120278904 describes the ability to use a Kinect-like camera-enabled device for "continuously monitoring a number of users at a display device during the performance of [some] content," which basically means the camera would watch the faces of anyone watching a display showing licensed content (like a movie or a game), and then track those faces to see if the viewers had appropriately licensed it.

The patent lists a number of options for determining the validity of the possible viewers, including counting their number (as in, making sure only three people were able to see a movie), or actually identifying specific users (to make sure Julie isn't watching a movie that Mark was only licensed to see). The patent itself doesn't specifically mention Kinect, but it does mention the idea of a "gaming and media system" as well as "mobile devices" with the same capability.

Obviously, such a system would have some weaknesses (could you use a picture or a sculpture to spoof the camera?), and the patent states at the end that this is just one possible implementation of a setup like this. But Microsoft is apparently thinking about using Kinect's ability to recognize you for more than just throwing around spells and playing games. In the future, that camera may be used to figure out whether you're following the rules or not.

Microsoft files patent for device that enforces licenses through visual surveillance | Joystiq

[realneil]

This is a damn good reason not to buy their crap.

[Deliverance]

I read about this elsewhere. It's like Microsoft is trying to promote piracy. Crazy.

[Dark Angel]

1984 wasn't supposed to be an instruction manual.

[realneil]

Really, who would want to buy into having your own electronics looking over your shoulder and telling on you?
If I owned one I would keep it unplugged until I needed to use it.

[calemus]

Really, who would want to buy into having your own electronics looking over your shoulder and telling on you?
If I owned one I would keep it unplugged until I needed to use it.

your going to have to start using Chinese proxy's, and untraceable mobile communications , and eliminate all vehicle satellite connectivity then
just to make a small jab at the very long list

[realneil]

your going to have to start using Chinese proxy's, and untraceable mobile communications , and eliminate all vehicle satellite connectivity then
just to make a small jab at the very long list

No, I'm not gonna do any of that. I'm no secret agent.
I don't care if anyone knows where I am with my phone. I don't care if my Garmin is broadcasting my locations.
But I'm not gonna spend my money on a device that monitors what I'm doing in my home, while targeting me for DRM compliance.
They can kiss my backside,...........

[PoLoMoTo]

Ps3!

[rrplay]

No, I'm not gonna do any of that. I'm no secret agent.
I don't care if anyone knows where I am with my phone. I don't care if my Garmin is broadcasting my locations.
But I'm not gonna spend my money on a device that monitors what I'm doing in my home, while targeting me for DRM compliance.
They can kiss my backside,...........

yeah well said Neil, me pretty much the same and play a up and up card with my dealings. I don't care if some people see my fb, twits, forums posts, which products I like,what restaurant I ate at. But absolutely no way in heck would I consider any thing to monitor living room, so called drm compliance , this 'schnitz' is getting to be ridiculous.