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Back in 2005, the FCC proposed that software and hardware makers be compelled to honor broadcast flags. These flags would have given broadcasters the ability to control how the content it broadcasts was used inside a consumer’s home. The flags would have allowed networks to outright block recording of their programs or make it where watchers had to view the commercials placed in programs.

Thankfully for the consumer, the FCC’s proposal was stuck down by the courts. The courts ruled that the FCC didn’t have the authority to tell electronics makers how to interpret signals they receive. However, the ability to follow the proposal was left up to the individual software and hardware makers.

Microsoft has been rather mum on the topic; however, the software giant and its Windows Vista Media Center application brought the topic to light again recently. Owners of Vista Media Centers were prevented from recording two NBC programs showing during Monday night prime time: American Gladiators and Medium.
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NBC came back yesterday according to News.com and said that the flag on American Gladiators and Medium was issued inadvertently. A NBC spokesperson told News.com, “We made an inadvertent mistake. We're not aware of any other complaints, and we believe we have addressed the problem.”

http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Volu … e11824.htm