Microsoft® Windows Media Digital Rights Management Web Services Privacy Statement

Updated: September, 2004

Microsoft is committed to helping to protect your privacy. This privacy statement explains the data collection and use practices of the Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management Web services ("DRM Web Services"). The DRM Web Services include the Windows Media License Backup and Restore Web Service (License Restore Service) and the Secure Upgrade Service. This statement does not apply to other online or offline Microsoft sites, products, or services.

Collection and Use of Contact Information

The DRM Web Services do not request any contact information from you (such as your name, address, and phone number).

Collection and Use of Information About Your Computer

The DRM Web Services automatically collect certain standard information from your computer ("standard computer information"). This computer information includes information about your computer software and hardware such as the IP address through which you access the Internet, browser type, operating system version, and referring Web site addresses. The privacy details for each feature listed below disclose what additional information is collected and how it is used.
 
Information that is collected by or sent to Microsoft may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents maintain facilities. Microsoft may disclose this information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Microsoft or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Microsoft and its family of Web sites, or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, users of Microsoft software or services, or members of the public. Microsoft occasionally hires other companies to provide limited services on its behalf, such as providing customer support, processing transactions, or performing statistical analysis of the DRM Web Services. Microsoft will provide those companies only the information they need to deliver the service. They are required to maintain the confidentiality of this information and are prohibited from using it for any other purpose.

Security

Microsoft is committed to helping protect the security of the information we collect. The License Restore Service uses a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect this information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Changes to this Statement

Microsoft may occasionally update this privacy statement. When we do, we will also revise the "last updated" date at the top of the privacy statement. We encourage you to periodically review this privacy statement to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the information we collect.

For More Information

Microsoft welcomes your comments regarding this privacy statement. If you believe that Microsoft has not adhered to this statement, please contact us by completing our online form or by sending postal mail to the address below. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and remedy the problem.
 
Windows Media Privacy
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052
USA

License Restore Service

What This Feature Does:

The License Restore Service enables you to restore your previously backed-up content licenses to your existing computer or a rebuilt or replacement computer a limited number of times.

Information Collected, Processed or Transmitted:

When you use the License Restore Service to back up your licenses, a key file that uniquely identifies your computer is saved along with the licenses themselves. No information is sent to Microsoft during a back up operation. However, when you request to restore previously backed up licenses, a key file that uniquely identifies the computer to which you are restoring the licenses is sent to Microsoft along with the key file that was created when you backed up your licenses. These key files do not contain your name or contact information.
 
When you submit a restore request, the License Restore Service also collects standard computer information and some additional information about your computer hardware and software. This additional information includes your current session ID (a random number that changes each time you load Microsoft DRM) as well as some standard troubleshooting data that helps Microsoft identify recurring problems. Standard troubleshooting data includes information such as your time-zone and language settings, the name and version of your media player application, DRM version, network proxy configuration setting, a previously generated session ID, information about the last error code, and your operating system version.
 
The license restore service counts the number of times that someone attempts to restore your licenses. The first time you exceed the limit of reasonable restore operations, you will see an error message. If you click "Web Help" you will be directed to a Reset page that allows you to request an additional reset and restore. After that, the License Restore Service will not process any further restore attempts.

Use of Information:

Choice/Control:

Information is only sent to Microsoft if you attempt to restore your licenses. No information is sent to Microsoft when you back up your licenses.

Important Information:

When you restore your licenses, it may be necessary to first upgrade some of the DRM components on your computer. If the upgrade is required, it will be performed as part of the license restore process; you will not be prompted to accept the upgrade.

Security Upgrade Service

What This Feature Does:

Music or video providers who choose to protect their content with DRM may require you to upgrade the DRM components (also known as "individualization") on your computer before playing their content. When you attempt to play content that requires a DRM upgrade, your media player will access a Microsoft Web site to download the upgrade.

Information Collected, Processed or Transmitted:

If you accept the upgrade, your computer will send a request to a Microsoft server containing standard computer information, standard troubleshooting data, information about the DRM components on your computer, such as their revision and security levels, and a unique identifier for your computer that is based on your hardware configuration.

Use of Information:

Microsoft uses the information described above to respond to your requests and to operate, maintain and improve the Security Upgrade Service. For example, the Microsoft server uses the unique identifier described above to return a unique DRM upgrade for your computer. We also use the information described above to generate statistics regarding use of the Security Upgrade Service.

Choice/Control:

If you decline a DRM upgrade, you will not be able to play content that requires it; however, you will still be able to access both unprotected and secure content that does not require the DRM upgrade.