I'm slogging through these terms, trying to figure out what you can and cannot do with your Zune and stumbled across a few What-the-Heck?! moments. Here is one of my favorites:
"In using the service, you may not...create a Zunetag or motto that other users may be offended by, including words that sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate any of the following: profane words/phrases, sexually explicit language, sexual innuendo, hate speech (including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or religious slurs), illegal drugs/controlled substances, or illegal activities"
And another. Who thought "I'm going to buy a music player, but first let me get ready to insult the victims of crimes against humanity. Oh no. Wait. It's aginst the TOS."?
"In using the service, you may not...publish, distribute or disseminate any topic, name, material, file or information that incites discrimination, hate or violence towards one person or a group because of their race, religion, nationality, transgender status, homosexual status or HIV/AIDS status, or that insults the victims of crimes against humanity by contesting the existence of those crimes"
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Comments (4)
Read More Entries by Erica Sadun.
Last poster is spreading misinformation: There's no 3-day limit on the songs you transfer to your own Zune! And the Zune DOES DO PODCASTS!
Sure, it's not perfect, but it will be way easier to modify than an iPod. Stick with an iPod if you're not very technical, but as a developer I'll have much more fun with a Zune.
Stay away from DRM-based music and you don't have to worry about wasting your money when upgrading.
I still think the Creative Zen Vision M beats them both.
That's some crazy stuff. The Zune won't last.
Crazier than all that is the DRM that Microsoft is putting on the music you transfer to the Zune. If you record a song yourself and transfer it to the Zune you can listen to it 3 times or for 3 days, whatever comes first. And if you want to share your music with others (music you performed, recorded and own) they are bound by the same 3-plays or 3-days DRM. Also beware, if you bought music from Microsoft's music store (MSN I think) and it's protected with Microsoft's "Plays For Sure" DRM ... it won't Play For Sure on your Zune, you get to buy it again from the Zune store. Furthermore the Zune does not play podcasts :(
I think Microsoft really stepped on their own (censored IAW the Zune TOS agreement) this time!
I suspect this is specifically aimed at Holocaust deniers, that might tag their "white pride" songs with tags like "Holocaust never happened", or whatever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_denial
I don't think you can sign away the constitutionally-protected aspects of that conduct, no matter what the terms of service say.
On the other hand, that these statements of terms are becoming increasingly ridiculous and impossible for an ordinary person to deal with is profoundly stupid.