Ars Technica got its hands on an internal Microsoft email that lays out its policy regarding Internet connections on the next Xbox:

“Durango is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today’s Internet. There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should ‘just work’ regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game.”

It’s pointed out that the above email seemingly confirms that the next Xbox will route through a set-top box to deliver an Xbox-branded TV experience to consumers. It’s good then that Microsoft won’t be forcing any kind of online connectivity on those who just want to watch TV.

Going back to games, what does this mean for all those rumors of DRM and blocking used games? Well, the next Xbox could still incorporate DRM that’s similar to what many PC games now do. The console would use an Internet connection for a one-time activation, and then the game could be played offline afterwards. It could also be used to block used games from being played on the system so there is still some concern there.

That being said, the next Xbox will at least be partially consumer friendly. That’s only a good thing as it looked like Microsoft was readying to shoot itself in the foot in the upcoming generation if it were to move ahead with an always online DRM scheme.

We’ll find out more about the next Xbox, and hopefully more clarification regarding any DRM, at a dedicated event on May 21.

Last year, Tor Books UK went completely DRM free. At the time, the publisher said that it was removing DRM from its e-books because it was a “constant annoyance” to its customers. It also said that DRM prevented customers “from using legitimately purchased e-books in perfectly legal ways, like moving the from one kind of e-reader to another.”

It’s been a year since Tor Books removed DRM from its products. Did the publisher suddenly see a sharp increase in piracy? Is the company finding that its business is failing because of its move? Will publishers that still insist on DRM look at them and say “Told you so” while sporting a malicious grin?

In all actuality, none of the above occurred as removing DRM has had no discernable effect on the publisher. Tor UK’s Editorial Director Julie Crisp said just as much in a blog post this week:

As it is, we’ve seen no discernible increase in piracy on any of our titles, despite them being DRM-free for nearly a year.

Crisp never outright says that sales increased when Tor UK removed DRM, but she does say that it has endeared readers and authors to the publisher:

The move has been a hugely positive one for us, it’s helped establish Tor and Tor UK as an imprint that listens to its readers and authors when they approach us with a mutual concern—and for that we’ve gained an amazing amount of support and loyalty from the community.

Of course, some publishers will argue that Tor’s experience with ditching DRM is the exception. They’ll argue that DRM is necessary to stop piracy, but we already know that DRM does nothing to stop piracy. Instead, in the words of Charles Stross, DRM is a “monopoly” that reduces readers’ freedom while hampering competition.

Even with Tor’s evidence, DRM will still be used for many years to come. Legacy industries refuse to even entertain the idea that DRM may be negatively affecting legitimate customers opting instead to continue beating the anti-piracy war drums.

[h/t: TechDirt]

In a post on its tech blog, Netflix says that its starting the move to HTML5 because Microsoft is putting Silverlight out to pasture in 2021. That’s not the only problem though. Some browsers, especially on mobile devices, don’t support plugins. This makes it hard for Netflix to deliver streaming video content to every browser on every platform. The move to HTML5 should readily fix that.

Of course, moving to HTML5 does present its own unique obstacles. For one, HTML5 is an open platform, and Neflix, as per its agreements with studios, must implement DRM on its streaming content to prevent people from pilfering the content from its site. Silverlight makes streaming DRM easy, but it’s a bit more complicated with HTML5.

Still, Netflix is moving forward with what it calls “HTML5 Premium Video Extensions.” In short, it’s DRM for HTML5 that comes in three extensions – Media Source Extensions, Encrypted Media Extensions and Web Cryptography API. The first two are already in effect, but the third is still being developed. In the meantime, Netflix is using its own Pepper Plugin API to take the place of the Web Cryptography API until it’s implemented in Chrome.

So, when will we start seeing HTML5 in broad use on Netflix? The company says that it will start testing HTML5 in Chrome once the Web Cryptography API is complete. Unfortunately, the test will only be available for Windows and Mac OSX computers. Those on Linux are left out, and those users are already voicing their displeasure in the blog comments.

Sources speaking to Kotaku are saying that the next Xbox will require an Internet connection when launching games or apps on the console. It’s similar to systems in place on the PC where games that use Steam or Uplay require an Internet connection to launch.

What’s more worrisome is that the next Xbox will reportedly require an always online Internet connection for the most part. It will be able to handle a dropped connection, but Kotaku’s sources are saying that the next Xbox can only handle a dropped connection for up to three minutes. A prolonged outage, which is a scenario any U.S. ISP subscriber is familiar with, will suspend the game and open a “network troubleshooter.”

Going back to PC games, we’ve seen systems like this implemented in games like Diablo III and, more recently, SimCity. The latter was especially disastrous as the game’s always online requirement prevented many people from being able to play the game they just spent $60 on.

If this is true, Microsoft is making a massive gamble on the next generation of game consoles. For one, the company is assuming that every consumer, or at least those interested in the next Xbox, has a broadband Internet connection. Secondly, it has convince consumers that its always online requirement won’t meet the same fate of its PC predecessors.

Outside of those two areas, the always online requirement could also tie into previous rumors that the next Xbox would use online authentication to prevent used games from playing on a machine. It certainly wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft took this path as publishers have been trying to eliminate the second-hand market for some time now.

The most interesting part about all of this, however, is that Sony has already confirmed that the PlayStation 4 won’t require an Internet connection to play games. If Microsoft does go down this route, Sony has an opening to lambast Microsoft for being anti-consumer.

It’s important to note that all of this is still merely rumor and speculation for now. Microsoft could reveal a console with no online requirements at the event that’s rumored to take place at the end of this month. That being said, the next generation of consoles is going to get really interesting if always online DRM and other methods of combating piracy becomes mainstream.

So, what would happen if companies started applying DRM to physical objects? The results are a little more than ridiculous if the DRM Chair is any indication:

The DRM Chair has only a limited number of use before it self-destructs. The number of use was set to 8, so everyone could sit down and enjoy a single time the chair.

A small sensor detects when someone sits and decrements a counter. Every time someone sits up, the chair knocks a number of time to signal how many uses are left. When reaching zero, the self-destruct system is turned on and the structural joints of the chair are broken.

DRM CHAIR from thibault brevet on Vimeo.

Consumers would never buy a chair that had only eight users. Why do we then keep buying digital software, music and movies that have the same anti-consumer restrictions?

[h/t: Reddit]

A recent patent filed by Microsoft would allow the Kinect camera to detect how many people are in the room at a time. As of now, the actual camera can only support two simultaneous players, but it can still register the number of people present. It doesn’t sound that bad until you read the patent’s description:

The technology, briefly described, is a content presentation system and method allowing content providers to regulate the presentation of content on a per-user-view basis. Content is distributed to consuming devices, such as televisions, set-top boxes and digital displays, with an associated license option on the number of individual consumers or viewers allowed to consume the content. The limitation may comprise a number of user views, a number of user views over time, a number of simultaneous user views, views tied to user identities, views limited to user age or any variation or combination thereof, all tied to the number of actual content consumers allowed to view the content. Consumers are presented with a content selection and a choice of licenses allowing consumption of the content. In one embodiment, a license manager on the consuming device or on a content providers system manages license usage and content consumption. The users consuming the content on a display device are monitored so that if the number of user-views licensed is exceeded, remedial action may be taken.

In short, Microsoft wants to turn the Kinect into DRM. The technology would allow rights holders to implement software into its media that could restrict viewings based on the number of people present. For example, let’s say that Star Wars Episode VII, when it comes out, has a maximum viewer allotment of five people. If the Kinect or other camera detects that more than five people are present, the movie would not play until you payed an extra fee to allow more viewers.

It’s funny – we complain about big media companies not evolving with technology. That’s not necessarily true. We expect these companies to evolve with technology in a way that’s consumer friendly and makes it easier for us, the consumers, to access content. In reality, big media companies are using technology to make it harder for consumers to enjoy content while simultaneously bleeding more money out of well-intentioned consumers.

It’s important to note that this is just a patent for now. Microsoft has not made any mention of implementing the software, and the current Kinect hardware isn’t exactly powerful enough to handle it. The Xbox 720 is apparently getting an upgraded Kinect, however, so you never know if Microsoft will turn its next home console into Big Brother’s technology of choice.

[h/t: Kotaku]

This week, Stephanie Perotti, Ubisoft’s worldwide director for online games, confirmed in an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun that Ubisoft has ditched always-on DRM. In fact, the company hasn’t implemented such tactics in over a year. Ubisoft’s policy is now to require only a one-time activiation when a game is first installed. In addition, the company now allows gamers to activate a game on as many PCs as they want. Perotti stated that Ubisoft changed its policy based on feedback from its customers.

Good for Ubisoft. The company probably realized that pirated copies of their older games didn’t have the always-on DRM requirement, and were therefore more desirable than a legal copy. Now the only complaints from PC gamers that Ubisoft is likely to hear often will be about the PC release delays of their titles.

Of course, this announcement comes just as Ubisoft has turned its Uplay DRM into the Uplay digital distribution platform. If the company decides to only sell the PC version of its titles through the Uplay store, or requre Uplay to be running for the game to be played, it is likely to receive many of the same complaints that EA has gotten for its Origin platform.

Today Ubisoft announced that its Uplay digital rights management (DRM) system has become yet another publisher-specific digital distribution platform for the PC. Uplay has now replaced the individual Uplay game launchers that are required to play modern Ubisoft games. The software will consolidate players’ Uplay-enabled games in and will, of course, feature an online shop, a friends list, a chat system, and achievements.

Electronic Arts (EA) released its digital distribution platform, Origin, just over one year ago with many of the same features. All of those features, however, were modeled after the current most popular and widely used digital distribution platform for the PC, Valve’s Steam.

To get PC gamers to download the new Uplay platform, Ubisoft is practically giving away free games. Starting today and ending on Sunday, Uplay is selling a specific game for $1 (1€ in Europe). The games, in order of the day they will be on sale, are: Hawx 2, From Dust, Silent Hunter 5, and Driver: San Francisco. Several other Ubisoft games, such as the Assassin’s Creed franchise, will be on sale for 75% off for a limited time.

“Uplay PC is a great way for customers to discover Ubisoft’s games, connect with their friends and gaming communities, and win achievements and content that’s not available anywhere else.” said Stephanie Perotti, worldwide director for online games at Ubisoft. “For PC gamers that are already fans of Ubisoft’s titles or have been considering trying some of our classics, this promotion is a great deal, and our way of saying thank you for their support.”

When Electronic Arts launched its Origin distribution platform, it soon after stopped offering its games for download over any other PC digital distribution system. Whether Ubisoft will follow a similar path is not yet known, but already gamers are becoming afraid of being required to have many different distribution platforms and stores to play the games they love. Assassin’s Creed III is still listed in the Steam store, but is not available for pre-order and has an outdated release date listed for the title.

Check out Ubisoft’s trailer for the new Uplay to see how the service will look:

Earlier this week we told you that Louis C.K. had decided to forgo Ticketmaster and sell tickets for his upcoming standup tour himself – directly from his website.

Here’s what he said about the venture in an email to fans:

We are selling tickets to this tour exclusively here on louisck.com. I only wanted to do this if there was a way, like with LIVE AT THE BEACON, that it could bring the price of tickets down and make them easier and less complicated to buy. We figured out a way.

Making my shows affordable has always been my goal but two things have always worked against that. High ticket charges and ticket re-sellers marking up the prices. Some ticketing services charge more than 40% over the ticket price and, ironically, the lower I’ve made my ticket prices, the more scalpers have bought them up, so the more fans have paid for a lot of my tickets.

By selling the tickets exclusively on my site, I’ve cut the ticket charges way down and absorbed them into the ticket price. To buy a ticket, you join NOTHING. Just use your credit card and buy the damn thing. opt in to the email list if you want, and you’ll only get emails from me.

The tickets are going for $45 – a flat rate for all shows across the country.

Now, a few days in, it appears that Louis C.K.’s direct ticket sale move is paying off. Apparently, fans have paid over 4.5 million dollars in just 45 hours of the sale being live:

Follow @louisck

Louis C.K.
@louisck

well. after 45 hours, my tour has sold 100K tickets, box office gross of 4.5 mil $ (not all mine). I guess it was a good idea.

 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite
16 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

That tweet came Wednesday evening, so we can assume the numbers are even better now.

If you remember, this isn’t the first time Louis C.K. has found success in bucking the trend. Last year, he distributed his standup special “Live at the Beacon” on his site, free of DRM, for $5. In just one week, proceeds hit the $1 million mark (of which he gave about 75% of to charity).

Other big-name comedians like Aziz Ansari and Jim Gaffigan followed suit, relasing their new standup specials direct to fans.

I can only express happiness and enthusiasm about this trend. And the more success “cutting out the middleman” finds, the more likely we are to see other content producers trying it out in the future. Of course, like I’ve said before, Louis C.K. is a huge star, and many think that he’s the best living comedian. It will be interesting to see if others who are maybe not at star-powered can find success following the Louis C.K. model.

And just for good measure, here’s why this funny son of a bitch is succeeding in all of his ventures:

Tom Doherty Associates, the publisher behind the Tor, Forge, Orb, Starscape, and Tor Teen imprints, will be making all of its e-book titles DRM-free. The announcement was made yesterday on the Tor blog that the publisher’s entire library of e-books will be DRM-free by “early July.” A similar announcement was made for Tor UK e-book titles. From the blog post:

“Our authors and readers have been asking for this for a long time,” said president and publisher Tom Doherty. “They’re a technically sophisticated bunch, and DRM is a constant annoyance to them. It prevents them from using legitimately-purchased e-books in perfectly legal ways, like moving them from one kind of e-reader to another.”

It’s comforting, and a bit surreal, to see a company “get it” when it comes to DRM. Being able to use purchased content in any way a user may choose almost seems to be a luxury now. Doherty sees that DRM is not needed and is a hinderance to legitimate customers. This is especially true in an industry where an act of piracy can create a die-hard fan for an author. Even more true with genre fiction, where series often run through dozens of novels. Some of science fiction and fantasy’s biggest authors, such as Cory Doctorow and Neil Gaiman, have even been giving away books for years now.

What do you think? Are you excited that you will be able to keep your Tor science fiction collection even after Amazon Kindle’s are a relic of the past? Leave a comment below with your DRM hopes or horror stories.