Microsoft settles up with InterTrust to drive DRM media protection

Microsoft is to pay InterTrust $440mn to both settle outstanding litigation and the right to use its DRM technology. Digital rights management (DRM) is an increasingly important issue for the electronic delivery of multimedia content, and the one-off payment means that Windows end-users will be able to use Microsoft technologies and services without requiring a separate licence from InterTrust. 'DRM solutions are essential to secure valuable personal, business and commercial content in a massively connected world,' said Will Poole, Senior VP of Microsoft's Windows Client Business. ...more

BT ups traffic allowance across its broadband

BT has increased the traffic allowances across its entire broadband portfolio. The new guidelines will come into effect on 15 October and in addition to raising the limits BT will no longer penalise or charge users who exceed them; instead frequent 'offenders' are contacted with a suggestion that they move to a service with a higher limit. The new limits are as follows: BT Broadband Basic - 2GB (currently 1GB); BT Broadband - 20GB (15GB); BT Yahoo! Broadband - the 15GB option rises to 20GB and the 30GB rises to 40GB. ...more

Real gets streaming media patent

Apple and Microsoft are bracing themselves for a hefty bill which is expected to land on their doormats. Following the news that Real Networks has been awarded a patent for streaming multimedia content over the Internet, the industry giants are like to receive a demand for licence payments stretching back over a decade. The Real patent - 6,985,932 also known as 'Click to Stream' - covers the method by which content is streamed over the Internet and begins playing on a target device before all the packets in the file are received. ...more

Windows under attack from zero-day exploit

Microsoft has alerted its users to attacks targetting a flaw in the way Windows handles .ani files, the format used to create animated cursors. The company has already posted a security advisory and has updated its OneCare security software for consumers to protect against the attacks. ...more

eBay everywhere on MSN

eBay and MSN are to tighten the ties between their services, with direct links to eBay items within a number of MSN areas. An eBay link already appears at the foot of search results on MSN Search and users can already receive .Net alerts for outbid and auction ending messages through MSN Messenger, but now direct links to individual items will be displayed for searches on the MSN home page, MSN Search, MSN Shopping and MSN Auctions. ...more