Still No Answer from Microsoft on Creative Commons Support

Microsoft still hasn't responded to the three questions I've now sent them on two different occasions, about whether Microsoft will add support for Creative Commons files, the potential for Zune viruses, and whether it has paid a street team to comment on blogs such as this one.

In the meantime, dsdonut commented (11/16 2:27pm),

"I think you are all misunderstanding the 3-day/3play thing. Ifsomething that I read earlier is correct, this rule only applies tosongs that already have microsoft's crappy DRM (crappy DRM, now that'sa redundant phrase). So, if you copy a CC file to your Zune, and shareit via the Zune's wireless, the DRM will not apply to that song."

Actually, dsdonut, it's true: the Zune applies the same 3-day/3-play rule to every song that enters it via Wi-Fi from another user, whether that song had DRM to start with or not.

Unprotected MP3s are subject to the same limits as DRM-ed Zune songs.
(I confirmed this twice with a Microsoft rep at last week's Zune press event, because I thought I didn't hear him right the first time.) I
don't believe anything happens to the file during this process; usagecontrol happens on the device level, rather on the file level. Eitherway, I think the argument that the policy could violate CC licenses hasmerit.

In my opinion, the three-day/3-play rule for open MP3s, whilepotentially illegal in the case of Creative Commons files, is a morelenient policy than Microsoft has been given credit for, because itpermits three more free listens than the labels usually allow. Infact, this feature could even be the reason Microsoft has to pay Universal for each Zune sold.

(image from zunenewssite)