Microsoft patents mandatory social policy??

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

________________________________________
From: Bob Frankston [Bob19-0501 () bobf frankston com]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 6:41 PM
To: David Farber
Subject: Microsoft patents mandatory social policy??

Are DRM hearing aids next? I hope this is a hoax but probably not.

First there’s the issue of patenting a protocol. Second there’s the offensive idea that you should program social 
policy into every device so that it can be imposed upon everyone. Like mandatory sentencing, this presumes an 
authoritative hierarchy without ambiguity.

The basic idea seems simple enough – but what is this DMP server and all about? A billable mechanism like IPSphere or 
IMS?


http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/microsofts-device-manners-policy-patent-enforces-no-talking-zo/ and 
http://www.unwiredview.com/2008/06/05/microsoft-wants-to-teach-manners-to-you-mobile-device/


Microsoft's Device Manners Policy patent enforces "no-talking zones" and more

by Joshua Fruhlinger<http://www.engadget.com/bloggers/joshua-fruhlinger/>, posted Jun 5th 2008 at 10:33AM
[cid:image001.jpg@01C8C712.C19C8BE0]<http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220080125102%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20080125102&RS=DN/20080125102>
This is either the best or worst idea ever, depending on your point of view. Microsoft has patented what it calls a 
"device manners policy" (DMP), a wireless zone-enforced device protocol that allows local operators to turn certain 
features off (or on) based on local manner and safety policy. Similar to how wireless service on planes can lock out 
voice<http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/06/jetblue-introduces-free-in-flight-email-im/> but allow data, Microsoft's DMP 
concept would allow local czars to enforce, for example, "no talking out loud" or "no photography" rules. Audio 
recording could be disabled at concerts, video recording killed at theaters, and ringers turned off at funerals. Of 
course, this all requires manufacturers to comply with the DMP protocol in their devices. In the end, we'd be looking 
at a pre-movie PSA that says "your phone is now being put on silent" rather than "please turn off your cell phone."




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