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Microsoft taps Yusuf Mehdi for MSN post

Microsoft named Yusuf Mehdi to run marketing for its online MSN and search properties, the company said Monday. His team runs marketing, product management, strategic partnerships, and business development for the sites.

Mehdi reports to Chief Executive Steve Ballmer until a new executive is named to run Microsoft's overall online services group, the company said. Jon Tinter of the MSN group and Brad Goldberg of the search group report to Mehdi.

Bill Veghte previously ran the MSN and search marketing work, but his title now is senior vice president for the Windows business. Brian Hall and his Windows Live … Read more

Don't shoot Microsoft's new Messenger

If you're an avid Windows Live Messenger user, now's the time to convince your friends to make the switch to the new Windows Live Messenger beta. If they don't, you'll be wondering what the hubbub is about.

Unveiled on Wednesday, the new beta offers a bundle of fun, fresh features, the best of which can be taken advantage of only when you're chatting with another beta user. As a beta, there are a few known bugs, and probably more to discover, but the adventurous early adopters who aren't afraid of leaving Windows' Messenger 8 … Read more

What if Apple stopped issuing DRM keys?

It happened to Microsoft and Yahoo. Could it happen to Apple?

The limitations of antipiracy software were dramatically illustrated last week when Yahoo Music announced the company would stop issuing authorization keys for the software that prevents its songs from being copied.

Microsoft's now defunct MSN Music service made a similar announcement last spring. Some CNET News readers have asked whether the same thing could happen at iTunes. The answer to that question is yes, it most certainly could.

If Apple ever stopped issuing keys for its FairPlay digital rights management then, just like at Yahoo and MSN, iTunes … Read more

EFF applauds Yahoo Music for reimbursing customers

Yahoo Music earned kudos from one of the Web's most outspoken advocacy groups on Monday.

The music service, which has opted to get out of music retail and subscription services, is offering to reimburse customers who bought music from Yahoo Music Unlimited. The decision follows the company's controversial announcement last week that it will no longer authorize keys that allow users to transfer music to new PCs or devices starting October 1.

Last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation called on Yahoo to offer customers refunds. Now that the company has, EFF is happy. "EFF applauds Yahoo's … Read more

Yahoo Music to offer refunds, what about MSN?

Yahoo Music is offering refunds to anyone who bought songs from the service. Is it time for MSN Music follow Yahoo's lead?

Yahoo announced last week that it would no longer issue authorization keys for the digital rights management, or DRM, software on its songs. This meant that anyone who bought songs from the service would still be able to hear their songs through its service but would be unable to move them to other devices or computers.

This did not play well with Web users. Now Yahoo Music plans to issue refunds and is trying to go one … Read more

EFF: Yahoo Music should compensate customers

Yahoo Music is telling customers that it won't allow users who bought songs from the service to transfer them to new devices or PCs after September 30.

The announcement on Thursday has stunned the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a watchdog group for Internet users. Surely, Yahoo should have learned something from the MSN debacle. Just a month ago, Microsoft reversed a decision to stop releasing authorization keys for the copy protections it placed on songs, and will issue keys for three more years.

"Some people think they can use music wrapped in digital rights management just like they do … Read more

Yahoo Music follows MSN into DRM controversy

Yahoo is shutting off support for Yahoo Music after September 30, which means starting October 1, if users want to move music to new hard drives or computers, they will be out of luck.

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that Yahoo Music alerted customers in an e-mail that it will no longer release keys to unlock digital rights management on its music. Sound familiar?

I've just spoken with a Yahoo spokeswoman who said that the move was announced earlier this year as part of Yahoo Music's partnership with RealNetwork's Rhapsody music service. Yahoo Music users will … Read more

MSN Music extends DRM deadline

Earlier this year, I gave Microsoft some flak for its decision to stop issuing DRM licenses for MSN Music downloads in Aug. 31 2008. That would have meant that consumers who'd purchased downloads from MSN Music before it became defunct--Microsoft is putting its focus on Zune--would no longer be able to transfer their songs to new computers after that date.

Now the company has reconsidered, and will extend the deadline until at least the end of 2011, according to this IDG story. I still think DRM is a poor way to address the very real problem of music piracy … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 749: Tom no longer exists on Netflix

Netflix inspires nothing but rage in Tom, Molly, Jason, and Natali with its announcement that it will not only get rid of profiles, but also erase all the data of the profile-holders. Tom? Quitting. Netflix? Claiming hardly anyone will be affected. We also suggest that Netflix consider the approach of Microsoft, which heard the furious cries of the 46 people who bought DRM'd tunes from MSN Music, and is extending its support for that DRM through 2011. Hint hint, Netflix, hint hint. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 749

Netflix To Eliminate Profiles Feature http://www.netflix.com/Help?p_faqid=3962&nlid=20427.1001179.0.1.0.0&eid=T1dbO9MEwQ0c … Read more