A new Microsoft patent has come to light which enables content owners to charge viewers for skipping over advertisements or for watching a replay. The new patent is called “control-based content pricing” and will sure create a negative buzz.
“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,” the patent states.
This is simply a new way to provide an advertisement revenue model that reflects user viewing choices and selections during playback of on-demand media. According to Microsoft, this enables targeted advertising and media content delivery, while maintaining consumer privacy.
Microsoft is also proposing a credit/debit pricing method in which pricing can be expressed as a debit function to receive an on-demand movie or even as a credit functions to watch an advertisement or infomercial before receiving the on-demand movie.
The patent was filed back in November of last year and was only recently brought to light. More on this as it develops.
