Zune Privacy Supplement
(last updated September 2007)
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Note that this page is a supplement to the Microsoft Online Privacy Statement. In order to understand the data collection and use practices relevant for a particular site or service, you should read both the Microsoft Online Privacy Statement and any applicable supplement.
On This Page
 | Account Creation and Usage |
| Zune Software |
| Microsoft Digital Rights Management and License Enforcement |
| Zune Device |
Account Creation and Usage
To use community features, purchase content from Zune Marketplace or sign up for a Zune Pass, you must create a Zune account and sign in with a Windows Live ID You will also be allowed to create a Zunetag or other nickname to use on the Zune.net site or Zune Marketplace. Your Zunetag will be automatically linked with your Windows Live ID so that when you sign into Zune.net, your experience will be personalized and you will have access to additional features.
You can access and edit your personal information, or change your Zune communication preferences, by signing into the Zune Marketplace, and selecting Account Management next to the sign-in icon. You can stop the delivery of future promotional e-mail from Microsoft sites and services by following the specific instructions in the e-mail you receive.
Children under the age of 18 cannot create a Zune account without parental consent. Account creation, which enables the use of Zune Marketplace and certain Zune.net features, will require the owner of the associated parent account to consent to the collection of information about the child. For children under the age of thirteen (13), this will involve the collection and verification of a credit card number in order to help determine that the owner of that parent account is an adult.
When the child account is set up, the associated parent account can set certain purchase and browsing restrictions for the child account using Zune's Family Settings features. Children's usage information, such as content browsed and download history, may be made available to the owner of the parent account associated with the child. To change these settings, the parent account must log into the Zune Marketplace and select Family Settings.
Zune Software
The Zune software contains a number of features that require it to connect to the Internet, such as purchasing media through Zune Marketplace, playback of streaming media, gathering related media information for your albums or tracks, checking for software updates, or accessing online help and support. When the Zune software connects to a Microsoft web site or online service, we may collect certain standard information from your computer such as your computer’s IP address, operating system version, Zune software version, a code that identifies the manufacturer of your computer, and your regional and language settings, along with other information needed for a specific feature.
In order to comply with certain licensing obligations, we collect some specific installation information when you install Zune. Information we collect during installation includes standard computer information, such as your Internet protocol address, the type of operating system, your Windows OS Product Identification Number (PID), browser and name and version of the software you are using, as well as whether you installed this software from a CD or the Internet, and whether it was a new or upgrade installation. This information is sent to a designated vendor who tracks installations for compliance with Microsoft's licensing obligations.
Editing Album or Track Info
If you select the Edit right-click menu item for any selected album or track, Zune will allow you to edit the album or track information that is maintained in your library. If Automatic Media Information Updates for Files selection is checked under the Library Options tab, and you are online, Zune will periodically contact Microsoft in order to update the information in your library for tracks that have incomplete information. When this occurs, Zune will send all the information it has in your library about such a track so that Microsoft 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 Microsoft 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.
Enhanced Playback
To enrich your experience, Zune can download and display related media information for the CDs you play or rip and the digital media files (for example, WMA and MP3 files) that you are playing on your computer. This information can include album title, album art, song title, and other information. Before accessing the Internet, Zune first checks if the related media information is already stored in your library or in the digital media file itself. If related information is in either of these places, the stored information is displayed.
If the related media information is not already stored in your library or in the file, Zune sends an information request to Microsoft in an attempt to identify the file's content. This request contains standard computer information plus information about the CD or digital music file. If related media information is found for the content, it will be downloaded to your computer and stored in your library. Storing the information in your library allows it to be displayed even when you are offline.
The digital media file itself may also get updated with missing related media information. For example, if your digital music file has the artist name, but not the album name, Zune will add the album name to the file. Note: Related media information may not be available in your local language.
Retrieving and updating related media information will also occur when:
| • | Using the library for the first time after updating Zune |
| • | Adding files to your library by searching your computer |
| • | Adding files to monitored folders, such as My Music |
To turn off this feature:
1. | Select Options --> Library -> More Options menu |
2. | On the Library tab, uncheck the box marked "Retrieve additional information from the Internet". |
Automatic Zune Software Updates
To provide you with the latest features and improvements, the Zune software will periodically check a Microsoft Web site for updates. You can also choose "Check for Zune Updates" on the Sync menu at any time. Information about the device, such as the vendor ID, the product ID, the hardware ID, and the current device software version will be sent back to Microsoft. 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. In some cases, an update will be required, and you will not be able to use the Zune software features that connect with Zune.net or to sign into Zune Marketplace without first installing the update.
Usage History
To improve our service and enhance your Zune experience, we may collect information about how you use the Zune software and device, including offline usage, whenever you are signed into Zune Marketplace. We will collect such information as the music you played using the Zune software or device, or content you browsed or purchased while signed into Zune Marketplace. We will use this data to enable such features as your Favorites. To comply with licensing obligations, we will share some of this information with third party content owners or their designees, but not in a format that personally identifies you. If you do not wish for this information to be collected, do not sign into the Zune Marketplace.
Customer Experience Improvement Program
If you choose recommended settings when you initially set up Zune, you will be included in the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program for Zune to improve the quality, reliability, and performance of Microsoft software and services. When you participate, we will collect additional anonymous information about your hardware configuration and how you use our software and services so that we can identify trends and usage patterns. We will not collect your name, address, or any other contact information. If you don't want to continue to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program, go to Options ->Library->More Options, select the Privacy Tab, and uncheck the box marked "I want to help make Microsoft software and services even better by sending Zune software usage data to Microsoft.
Zune Media Sharing
If you own an Xbox 360, and turn on Zune Media Sharing, it will automatically allow any Xbox 360 that is connected to your local network to browse and play the content that is in your Zune media library. This would allow others on your local network to see your media content file names. You can turn this feature off in the Media Sharing settings page, by going to Zune Options -> Media Sharing, and uncheck "Share My Media".
Microsoft Digital Rights Management and License Enforcement
Zune uses Microsoft Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology to preserve the rights of content owners who protect their music or video products in this manner. You must have a DRM license in order to play protected content. When you acquire protected content from the Zune Marketplace, you will also receive the associated license at the same time.
Player Revocation
If the security of your version of Zune is compromised, owners of secure content may request that Microsoft revoke the Zune's right to copy, display, and/or play secure content. Revocation does not alter the ability of Zune to play unprotected content. A list of revoked software can be sent to your computer whenever you acquire content or log into the Zune Marketplace. If Zune has been added to the revocation list, it will not be able to play secure content until you update the software to a more recent and secure version.
Device Revocation
If security problems are found with the Zune device, a content owner may ask Microsoft to revoke the ability of the devices to play protected content. If this occurs, your device will not be able to obtain new content until you upgrade the software on your device to a more secure version. However, protected content that already plays on your device will still play, as will unprotected content.
DRM Component Upgrade
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, Zune 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, Zune will send a request to a Microsoft server containing standard computer information, troubleshooting information such as information about the last error code, 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 Zune.
Updating Zune Pass Subscription Rights
If you subscribe to ZunePass, Zune automatically scans your library for subscription files that have expired or are about to expire and then requests updated subscription rights from the Zune Marketplace rights server. If you are signed into Zune Marketplace, you will not be prompted before Zune sends the request to the rights server. This helps to ensure that you have a seamless playback experience. When requesting subscription rights, Zune will provide the rights server with standard computer information, an ID for the music 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.
Zune Device
Wireless Feature
If you have a Zune device, it is equipped with a wireless capability that will allow you to send data wirelessly to other Zune devices near you. During the Zune device initial set-up, you will be prompted to name your device and the wireless feature will be turned on. Whenever wireless is turned on, your Zune device name will be broadcast wirelessly to any other Zune devices within range, approximately to 100 yards.
Sending Content Wirelessly
When your wireless is turned on, you can send pictures or songs or other content on your device to other Zune devices within range (unless you are blocked). Your Zune device name and a GUID that uniquely identifies your device will be sent to the other device. When the other user syncs their device to their computer, your device name will appear alongside the metadata of any content that you have sent to their device. Your GUID is also sent to the other computer, but it is not visible.
Controlling Wireless Settings
To turn off broadcast completely, you must turn off wireless. To turn off wireless, on the "Settings" page on the device's main menu, change wireless to "Off". You will not be able to use any features that require wireless, such as "Send".
When you turn wireless on, only the "Basic" setting is turned on by default. The "Basic" setting will broadcast only your device name, and your status, either "busy" or "online". You can choose to turn on the "Detailed" setting, in which case, your device name, and what you are listening to or watching will be broadcast to any device within range.
You can block specific devices nearby from sending you any content. To block a device, go to the "Nearby" menu, and you can choose to block any device that is currently in range. Even though that device is blocked, they can still see you in their list of devices nearby, but they cannot send content to you. Their device will no longer appear in your list of devices within range, and will remain blocked unless you unblock them at some point. To unblock a device, go to the "Nearby" menu, and choose "Show Blocked", select their device name, and then choose "Unblock".