Windows Media Player 11 privacy statement

WindowsMedia.com is a website operated by Microsoft. A cookie will be sent to WindowsMedia.com whenever Windows Media Player communicates with a server at WindowsMedia.com (for example when Windows Media Player requests supplemental CD or DVD information). The cookie allows WindowsMedia.com to personalize your WindowsMedia.com experience. The cookie also contains a unique identifier that allows WindowsMedia.com to generate anonymous visitor statistics. This identifier is not the same as the Player ID described in the Communication with Streaming Media Servers section and does not contain any personally identifiable information. For more information about this cookie, please see the WindowsMedia.com privacy statement.

Online stores may place cookies on your computer. If the online store you are using is provided by a non-Microsoft company, the use of this cookie will be subject to that company's privacy practices.

Streaming media servers you connect with may also establish cookies on your computer. What data is stored in these cookies and how that data is used is determined by the content provider. Please contact the content provider for further information regarding these cookies.

It is possible to block the creation and transfer of cookies by using Internet Explorer. If you decide to block one or more cookies, the websites that use them may not function correctly.

To prevent all cookies from being stored on your computer

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Privacy tab.

2. Move the slider up to Block All Cookies. On this setting, websites will not be able to store cookies on your computer.

   

   Note

   Blocking all cookies is an extreme action to take. The next two Internet Explorer privacy levels, High and Medium High, may be more suitable. In addition, it is possible to block a cookie for a specific site via the Internet Explorer Privacy tab. Please see Internet Explorer Help for more information.

To access the Internet Explorer Privacy tab directly from Windows Media Player

1. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, and then click More Options.

2. Click the Privacy tab, and then click Cookies.

Windows Media Player allows you to select your online store from a list of available stores. In some cases, Windows Media Player will have been installed with an online store already selected for you, but you are free to select a different online store at any time. When you select an online store, you will get access to new features that may enhance your playback experience. These features may include more information about the content you're playing or viewing and opportunities to purchase music and/or other content. Unless you are working offline, some of the features of Windows Media Player will communicate with your current online store, as described below. See "What happens when there are no online stores" for additional information on the behavior of Windows Media Player if you are in a locale in which there are no online stores.

Windows Media Player features are accessed through a set of tabs in the Windows Media Player display. These include the Now Playing, Library, Rip, Burn, Sync, and Online Stores tabs. When you select one of these tabs, information may be sent to your online store or to Microsoft, as described in detail below.

Whenever Windows Media Player starts up, a message is sent to WindowsMedia.com to obtain the current list of online stores available in your locale. This startup message contains the standard computer information described earlier.

You can use the drop-down arrow on the Online Stores tab to select a new online store. When you select an online store, a message is sent to a server at the company that operates the online store in order to determine which stores it offers. This message contains standard computer information. Windows Media Player uses the information that is returned to customize the Online Stores tab that is displayed in Windows Media Player.

Not all online stores provide the same features. For example, online music stores have different functionality than other online stores. If your active online store is not a music store and Windows Media Player needs to access an online music store for a particular feature (such as displaying additional information about a CD that you are playing), it will access the last online music store you used.

If you click a store that is displayed on the Online Stores tab, a request containing standard computer information will be sent to a server at the company that operates that online store. The resulting information will be displayed in the Online Stores tab. If your online store requests any data from you or collects any additional information automatically during this process, this data will be subject to the online store's privacy practices.

If you are playing music, you may choose to enable the Info Center View, which is off by default. When you enable the Info Center View, and whenever you select the Now Playing tab with Info Center View enabled, an information request will be sent to your online store. This request will contain standard computer information and information about the currently playing song. The resulting information from your online store will be displayed in the Now Playing tab. If your online store requests any data from you or collects any additional information automatically during this process, this data will be subject to the online store's privacy practices.

If you have not enabled the Info Center View, the Now Playing tab will display visualizations or a blank window.

Menu items within the Now Playing tab and in the main Player menu allow you to download new visualizations, plug-ins, device drivers, and skins for Windows Media Player. If you select these menu items, a webpage request is sent to a server at WindowsMedia.com. This request contains standard computer information. The resulting webpage, which provides instructions on downloading the desired components, will be displayed in a new window by your default browser. For additional information, see the WindowsMedia.com privacy statement.

If you select the Buy menu item on the Now Playing tab, a request containing standard computer information and an ID identifying the selected CD will be sent to a server at your online music store. The resulting information will be displayed in the music tab for your online store. If your online store requests any data from you or collects any additional information automatically during this process, this data will be subject to the online store's privacy practices.

You can use the Find Album Info right-click menu item for any selected album or track on the Library or Rip tabs to request additional album information. By default, the information request is sent to your online music store. However, if you are in a locale with no online music stores, Windows Media Player sends the request to WindowsMedia.com. This request contains standard computer information plus information on the currently playing selection. The resulting information page will be displayed in a new Windows Media Player window. For additional information on its privacy practices, see the WindowsMedia.com privacy statement.

If you click the Edit button in a Find Album Info display, or select the Edit right-click menu item for any selected album or track, Windows Media Player will allow you to edit the album or track information that is maintained in your library. If the Update music files by retrieving media info from the Internet option is set and you are online, Windows Media Player will periodically contact WindowsMedia.com in order to update the information in your library for tracks with only partially complete information. When this occurs, Windows Media Player will send all the information it has in your library about such a track so that WindowsMedia.com can recognize the track and return any additional information that is available. Any information that you have changed or added to your library about tracks or albums will be sent to WindowsMedia.com and will be stored there and made available to other users requesting information for the same track or album. Consequently, you should not make any changes that you would not want other users to see.

Updating the Library feature is explained more fully in Enhanced Playback of Digital Music Files below.

The Buy, Info Center, More Info, and Find Album Info features all send information requests to your online music store. If you are in a locale with no online stores, these features will send webpage requests to WindowsMedia.com. For additional information on its privacy practices, see the WindowsMedia.com privacy statement.

Several of the selections in the Windows Media Player Help menu send webpage or information requests to Microsoft. These requests contain standard computer information.

• Windows Media Player Online. Opens your default browser to a web-based Help page at Microsoft.com.

• Check for Player Updates. Launches the Windows Media Player installer, which sends an information request to a Microsoft website for updates. This request contains standard computer information including the version of your current Windows Media Player. If an update is found, you will be prompted that an update is available and, if you consent, the new software will be downloaded from Microsoft and installed on your computer.

• View Privacy Statement. Opens your default browser to the Microsoft.com webpage containing this privacy statement.

• Troubleshooting. Opens your default browser to a troubleshooting webpage at Microsoft.com.

Windows Media Player lets you share files in your library with other users on your home network and to browse the files that are in libraries that other users on your network are sharing. Before you turn on sharing, you may wish to verify that your network is secure. For information about securing your network, see Windows Help and Support.

Media sharing is turned off by default. To turn it on, do the following:

1. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Media Sharing.

2. In the Media Sharing dialog box, select the Share my media check box.

3. To browse libraries that are on computers on your network, select the Find media that others are sharing check box.

4. In the list of devices below the Share my media to check box, select a device.

5. To share your media with the computer or device you have selected, click Allow.

   The current status of sharing is displayed at the bottom of the Media Sharing dialog box. If sharing is turned on and you want to turn it off, clear the Share my media to check box.

If there is an online store associated with the protected file, software installed on your computer by the online store may obtain the usage rights before you play the content. If this software requests any data from you or collects any additional information automatically, this data will be subject to the online store's privacy practices.

If the online store did not supply the usage rights, or if the protected content is not associated with any of your online stores, Windows Media Player will request rights directly from a rights server on the Internet. The server's web address is specified in the protected file; most rights servers are operated by companies other than Microsoft. When requesting rights, Windows Media Player will provide the rights server with standard computer information, an ID for the music or video file, the action you have requested (such as play or burn), information about the DRM components on your computer such as their revision and security levels, and a unique identifier for your computer. The unique identifier is used only to generate the rights for your computer and, because it is enclosed in an encrypted license request, is not available to the rights server in a way that uniquely identifies you or your computer.

By default, Windows Media Player will automatically attempt to acquire usage rights silently unless the server requires some input from you (such as registration information or a fee). You can turn off automatic rights acquisition. If you do so, you will be prompted to obtain rights for any new content that requires them. To prevent Windows Media Player from acquiring rights automatically, do the following:

1. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, and then click More Options.

2. Click the Privacy tab, and then clear the Automatically check if protected files need to be refreshed check box.

Please note that this setting does not affect usage rights acquisition from online stores.

If you subscribe to a music or video subscription service through an online store, Windows Media Player automatically scans your library for media usage rights that have expired or are about to expire and then requests updated media usage rights from a rights server on the Internet. If you are signed in with your online store you will not be prompted before Windows Media Player sends the request to the rights server. This helps to ensure that you have a seamless playback experience. When requesting media usage rights, Windows Media Player will provide the rights server with standard computer information, an ID for the music or video file, the action you have requested (such as play or sync), information about the digital rights management (DRM) components on your computer such as their revision and security levels, and a unique identifier for your computer. The unique identifier is used only to generate rights for your computer and, because it is enclosed in an encrypted request, is not available to the rights server in a way that uniquely identifies you or your computer.

You can prevent Windows Media Player from scanning your library and from attempting to update the media usage rights by doing the following:

1. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, and then click More Options.

2. Click the Privacy tab, and then clear the Automatically check if protected files need to be refreshed check box.

Microsoft also provides a service that lets you move media usage rights for files that were copy-protected when they were ripped (or copied) to a computer. If you try to play these files on a different computer, Windows Media Player will open your default browser and send a webpage request to a migration server at Microsoft. The request will contain standard computer information, a unique ID for the computer that originally protected this content, plus information that identifies your new computer. Unless the migration limit has been reached, new rights will be returned that enable use of the content on your new computer. Microsoft keeps track of the number of migrations granted and allows a limited number of migrations.

If the security of your version of Windows Media Player is compromised, owners of secure content may request that Microsoft revoke the right of the Player to copy, display, and/or play secure content. Revocation does not alter the ability of Windows Media Player to play unprotected content. A list of revoked software can be sent to your computer whenever you acquire media usage rights. If Windows Media Player has been added to the revocation list, it will not be able to play secure content until you update the Player to a more recent and secure version.

If security problems are found with portable players that support Microsoft DRM, the device manufacturer or content owner may ask Microsoft to revoke the ability of these devices to play protected content. If this occurs, your device will not be able to obtain new media usage rights; however, protected content that already plays on your device will still play. Contact your device manufacturer for further information.

Music or video owners who choose to protect their content with Microsoft DRM may also require you to upgrade the DRM components on your computer before accessing their content. When you attempt to play content that requires a DRM upgrade, Windows Media Player will notify you and ask for your consent before the DRM upgrade is downloaded. If you decline the upgrade, you will not be able to access content that requires the DRM upgrade; however, you will still be able to access unprotected content and secure content that does not require the upgrade.

If you accept the upgrade, Windows Media Player 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. The Microsoft server uses this identifier to return a unique DRM upgrade for your computer, which will then be installed by Windows Media Player.

Many portable media players contain an internal clock that allows content providers to issue media usage rights based on a date or time. You can configure Windows Media Player so that it automatically sets the clock on your portable media player whenever the portable player is connected to your computer. To set the clock on a portable player, Windows Media Player first sends a time inquiry to a server at WindowsMedia.com. This inquiry contains standard computer information, standard troubleshooting data, and a request for the current time.

To configure Windows Media Player to set the clock on a portable media player

1. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, and then click More Options.

2. Click the Privacy tab, and then select the Set clock on devices automatically check box.

When this option is set, then, for either automatic or manual sync, Windows Media Player will set the clock before the first sync after a device is connected.

When this option is disabled during an automatic sync, Windows Media Player will not set the portable player's clock. This may cause errors when synchronizing content to the portable player if there are media usage rights that depend on an accurate time of day setting.

When this option is disabled during a manual sync, Windows Media Player will ask if you want to set the clock on the portable media player. If you consent, the clock will be set before content is transferred to the portable player. If you say no, the clock will not be set.