Digital Home Thoughts: C|NET: "Labels, Microsoft in talks on CD Copying"

"Record labels and Microsoft are in discussions about ways that the next generation of the Windows operating system, code-named Longhorn, can support copy-protected CD technology. The music labels, in large part led by top executives at EMI Group and coordinated through their U.S. and international trade associations, are creating a "wish list" of CD rights protection features they want to see provided or supported by Longhorn. Microsoft, in turn, has provided its own set of guidelines for the labels, without yet promising anything, sources familiar with the situation said."

In a nutshell, the music labels are asking Microsoft to include support for their various DRM schemes in Longhorn making it secure from the OS level. That could be a very bad thing, but it really depends on what the labels want. Microsoft has told the labels that they will not incorporate anything that is considered hostile to the consumer, but what the labels want is to take away our ability to rip CDs how we want, when we want. This can't be a good thing, so I hope Microsoft stands their ground.