BrokeMyController has reported this week on a newly discovered Microsoft patent, one that will bring about automated DLC purchasing system to the Xbox 360.
The patent would work as follows: You and friends are on Xbox Live and one of your buddies asks you to join a game for multiplayer. Unfortunately you don’t have the latest map pack DLC. The new system would send up a prompt screen, asking that you purchase the DLC to accept your friend’s invite. Hit “yes” and the DLC will download and install, without the need to head over to the Marketplace, and you can get back to playing the game with your buddies.
Currently, if you are invited to a game for which you are missing DLC, you are “required to back out of the commenced multiplayer session, manually locate the desired content, purchase the content, install the content, relocate the inviting players, prepare his own request to join their game,” says the source, which is clearly a hassle.
The full patent here: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20100056268.pdf
Result for: content
A new proposal in Britain, taken up by the House of Commons today, wants to make it law that ISPs are forced to block access to all sites that offer unauthorized movies, music and other pirated content like games and books.
Content holders say the amendment will finally give them “the tools to tackle the piracy problem at the supply and demand levels,” says the NYTimes, but critics see censorship of the Internet and general undermining of the development of England’s digital economy.
The Open Rights Group, which has been fighting against Internet censorship, says the new law will certainly be abused, allowing individuals or companies to “suppress any Web content they find objectionable, under the pretext of protecting their copyright.”
The British government says curbing piracy will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue to the entertainment industry, which accounts for 6 percent of economic output, but critics say the policies will be expensive for the ISPs, and taxpayers will be forced to help pay for the enforcement of policies they couldn’t care less about.
Result for: content
James Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corps. European and Asian operations has made some interesting comments this week in regards to piracy, calling on governments to “get tough” on illegal downloading.
“We need enforcement mechanisms and we need governments to play ball … There is no difference with going into a store and stealing Pringles or a handbag and taking this stuff. It’s a basic condition for investment and economic growth and there should be the same level of property rights whether it’s a house or a movie,” said Murdoch. “The idea that there’s a new consumer class and you have to be consumer-friendly when they’re stealing stuff. No. There should be the same level of sanctity as there is around property. Content is no different. They’re not crazy kids. No. Punish them.”
James Murdoch is the son of mogul Rupert Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of News Corp, and younger Murdoch is expected to take over the company when his father retires.
Adding to what his father has said in the past, James said News Corp. will act against “content aggregators,” including search giant Google, in order to protect its copyrights.
“We’re being very careful legally to protect our rights,” says Murdoch, via Guardian. “If there’s money getting stuck it’s getting stuck in an inefficient distribution layer … where Google and Yahoo are suddenly indexing copyright material and then selling bits of it and making money from it. You may have to withdraw access to those things. You may not.”
