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The software company filed for a patent on technology that would let content owners charge people if they skip over commercials or replay on-screen action.

Microsoft has created technology that could raise the price of a movie or TV show if a TV viewer skips past ads.

Microsoft has filed for a new patent called "control-based content pricing" that will enable content owners to charge users for skipping over ads or watching a replay.

On its face, the description of the technology doesn't sound like a great consumer proposition, to say the least.

"If a user initiates a navigation control input to advance past (e.g., skip over) an advertisement, the cost of a requested on-demand movie may be increased," Microsoft said in the application. A Microsoft representative was not immediately available for comment.

But Microsoft says just because the company filed for the patent doesn't mean we'll see a product like this anytime soon.

"Microsoft regularly applies for and receives patents as part of its business practice," Microsoft said in a statement. "Not all patents applied for or received will be incorporated into a Microsoft product."

Todd Bishop at Geekwire is reporting that the patent application was filed in November and recently surfaced. The technology builds on an existing patent that was issued to Microsoft in 2011, according to the blog.

From the application:

For example, if a user initiates a navigation control input to advance past (e.g., skip over) an advertisement, the cost of a requested on-demand movie may be increased. Similarly, if a user initiates a replay of a sporting event, the user may be charged for the replay control input and for each subsequent view control input. This provides an advertisement revenue model that reflects user viewing choices and selections during playback of requested on-demand media, and enables targeted advertising and media content delivery, while maintaining consumer privacy.

Continue reading here:
Microsoft seeks patent for TV-viewing tolls

By Patricia Andrea Patea and Katreena Bisnar

HE may have found 20 things he disliked about the Philippines, but the country has more than 20, even 100 good things going for it.

Regional Director Rowena Montecillo of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) said this in response to the video posted by American Jimmy Sieczka titled 20 Reasons Why I Dislike The Philippines.

The video, which was shot in Cebu City, has been getting the attention of TV and the news media after gaining many Internet viewers.

Jimmy said hes been living and working in Cebu for more than three years now. The video featured landmarks like the Larsian barbecue joint and bars around Mango Avenue.

Jimmys complaints ranged from dirty sidewalks, unsanitary food, uncomfortable toilets, unfinished buildings, lazy security guards and unregulated traffic.

The video directed by American Michael Goodman was first posted in the website channelfix.com last Wednesday.

Montecillo said the DOT-7 is taking Jimmys criticism positively since the video showed what needs to be improved and changed in the province.

Montecillo said the DOT-7 welcomes any comments, including criticism and especially suggestions.

I dont think there are perfect tourist destinations and we would welcome any suggestionThis should bring us, the different agencies to sit down and really see what we can do about all of these things, she told Cebu Daily News.

The rest is here:
DOT: ‘20 reasons’ video has valid points

Published: March. 16, 2012 at 5:43 PM

PARIS, March 16 (UPI) -- Internet giants such as Twitter, Google and Facebook should pay taxes on online advertising revenues in France, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says.

"It is unacceptable that they have a turnover of several billion euros in France without paying tax," he said in an interview Wednesday, suggesting his government should consider taxing the revenues.

A proposed tax on online advertising revenues was rejected last year by French lawmakers who feared it would hurt small local companies more than global Internet companies, Radio France Internationale reported.

A Google spokesman, responding to Sarkozy's remarks, argued "the Internet offers a wonderful opportunity to generate growth and jobs in France."

Internet companies contributed $80 billion to the French economy in 2009 and could create 450,000 jobs by 2015, the spokesman said.

"This positive contribution would have a better chance of coming about in an environment that is supportive of the Web in France and of investment in the sector," he said. "Public policy should support this."

Originally posted here:
Sarkozy: Internet giants should be taxed

Have you heard of TIM? The Trustworthy Internet Movement is a new initiative launched a few weeks ago at the 2012 RSA Security Conference. The goal of TIM is to bring together experts, industry stakeholders, and others in an effort to build a safer and more secure Internet.

TIM was founded by Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO of Qualys. But, TIM is a non-profit organization that is entirely independent of Qualys.

TIM seeks to pool resources and find collaborative solutions for a more secure Internet.I spoke with Courtot a few days before the official unveiling of TIM at RSA. He described to me how TIM was borne over time from countless conversations hed had with other security professionals. Courtot believes that there are fundamental issues with Internet security that can not be resolved by any single tool, or even any single company.

Courtot is dedicated to ensuring the reliability, privacy, and security of the Internet, and he feels that the best way to meet that goal is to create an environment where security experts, cloud providers, and other Internet stakeholders can cooperate to find innovative solutions to defend against the rising tide of threats on the Internet. Courtot believes strongly enough in this initiative that he pledged $500,000 of his own money to get the project off the ground.

There is definitely something to be said for this approach. In the wake of the attacks against Google and others in China, various affected parties worked together collaboratively with Internet security providers and law enforcement agencies. The key lesson from that effort was that sharing information cooperatively lets all involved see the bigger picture and helps to identify issues and develop resolutions faster.

Various companies and security experts are already hard at work on different solutions to address problems with privacy, reliability, and security on the Internet, and many of those solutions will succeed on some level. But, rather than developing competing or conflicting approaches to the same problem, TIM might be able to harness those efforts to develop innovative solutions that are greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Obviously, the companies or individuals involved in a collaborative effort like TIM all have a vested interest in their own success and profit. But, the Internet is essential to business, news, entertainment, and mainstream culture in general, and there is something to be said for working together for the greater good.

If youre interested in learning more about TIM, or youd like to join the cause and contribute your skills and resources, visit the site.

You can follow Tony on his Facebook page, his Google+ profile, or contact him by email at tony_bradley@pcworld.com. He also tweets as @TheTonyBradley.

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TIM Brings Experts and Industry Together in Search of More Secure Internet

Have you heard of TIM? The Trustworthy Internet Movement is a new initiative launched a few weeks ago at the 2012 RSA Security Conference. The goal of TIM is to bring together experts, industry stakeholders, and others in an effort to build a safer and more secure Internet.

TIM was founded by Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO of Qualys. But, TIM is a non-profit organization that is entirely independent of Qualys.

TIM seeks to pool resources and find collaborative solutions for a more secure Internet.I spoke with Courtot a few days before the official unveiling of TIM at RSA. He described to me how TIM was borne over time from countless conversations hed had with other security professionals. Courtot believes that there are fundamental issues with Internet security that can not be resolved by any single tool, or even any single company.

Courtot is dedicated to ensuring the reliability, privacy, and security of the Internet, and he feels that the best way to meet that goal is to create an environment where security experts, cloud providers, and other Internet stakeholders can cooperate to find innovative solutions to defend against the rising tide of threats on the Internet. Courtot believes strongly enough in this initiative that he pledged $500,000 of his own money to get the project off the ground.

There is definitely something to be said for this approach. In the wake of the attacks against Google and others in China, various affected parties worked together collaboratively with Internet security providers and law enforcement agencies. The key lesson from that effort was that sharing information cooperatively lets all involved see the bigger picture and helps to identify issues and develop resolutions faster.

Various companies and security experts are already hard at work on different solutions to address problems with privacy, reliability, and security on the Internet, and many of those solutions will succeed on some level. But, rather than developing competing or conflicting approaches to the same problem, TIM might be able to harness those efforts to develop innovative solutions that are greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Obviously, the companies or individuals involved in a collaborative effort like TIM all have a vested interest in their own success and profit. But, the Internet is essential to business, news, entertainment, and mainstream culture in general, and there is something to be said for working together for the greater good.

If youre interested in learning more about TIM, or youd like to join the cause and contribute your skills and resources, visit the site.

You can follow Tony on his Facebook page, his Google+ profile, or contact him by email at tony_bradley@pcworld.com. He also tweets as @TheTonyBradley.

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Searching for a More Secure Internet