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Windows Media Personal License Migration Service Privacy Statement

 

Updated: April 2004

At Microsoft, we're working hard to help protect your privacy while delivering software that brings you the performance, power, and convenience you desire in your personal computing. This privacy statement explains the data collection and use practices of the Windows Media Personal License Migration Service ("License Migration Service"). It does not apply to other online or offline Microsoft sites, software, or services.

If you copy digital media content (such as music that you own) to your computer with personal copy protection enabled, Microsoft Windows Media Player, or other media players that incorporate Windows Media technology, will create a license that associates the content with your computer ("Personal Content"). If you try to play your Personal Content on another computer, the License Migration Service will offer you a chance to migrate your license to that computer. The License Migration Service will also prompt you in the same way if you try to play someone else's Personal Content on your computer. For information about turning personal copy protection on and off, see the topic "To turn off content protection when copying CDs" or "Setting options for ripping CDs" in Windows Media Player Help.

The License Migration Service only works for Personal Content. If you have digital media content on your computer that you obtained from a music or video service on the Web, this content may be protected by a license that defines a fixed set of rights to play, copy, transfer, or burn the content to a CD ("Commercial License"). If you want to move Commercial Licenses to another computer, you should use the license back up and restore features described in Windows Media Player Help.

Collection and Use of Information About Your Computer

When you use the License Migration Service, Microsoft does not collect any contact information (such as your name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address). When you choose to migrate a license, a unique computer ID is created and submitted to the license migration server at Microsoft along with a unique encryption key that was created when the content was protected. At the same time, certain standard information about your computer hardware and software is also sent to Microsoft (such as your computer's IP address, operating system version, Windows Media Player version, and your regional and language settings). None of the data that is sent to Microsoft is ever tied to contact data about you.

The unique computer ID and encryption key are stored by Microsoft in a database and are used to count how many computers have requested a license for the same Personal Content. The service permits a license to exist on up to 10 unique computers. After the limit of 10 is reached, no additional licenses will be issued to new computers.

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.

Cookies

If you have cookies enabled on your computer, the License Migration Service may automatically create a cookie on your computer. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a Web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a Web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you. The License Migration Service does not use this cookie for any purpose.

Security of Your Information

Microsoft is committed to protecting the security of your information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, we store the information you provide on computer servers with limited access that are located in controlled facilities. 

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 personal information we collect.

For More Information

If you have questions about this privacy statement, please contact us by e-mail or postal mail.

Windows Media Personal License Migration Service Privacy
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
USA
wmpriv@microsoft.com

 
 

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