[Bobblehead]

Earlier this month, some fans of the NBC television programs American Gladiators and Medium found themselves unable to digitally record the shows on their personal computers. The reason for the blocked recordings raises important technical and legal questions about the rights of consumers to "time shift" television programs in the digital era.

The blocked recordings affected people that record television programs on their personal computers using the Microsoft Windows Vista Media Centre. Most people are unaware that Microsoft has inserted a feature that allows a broadcaster or content owner to stop the digital recording of a show by triggering a "broadcast flag" that specifies its preference the show not be recorded. When the user tries to record it, Microsoft's software recognizes the flag and issues a warning that the program cannot be recorded.

http://www.thestar.com/article/429825

I wonder how many people realize how many controls like this are already in place and just waiting to be activated?

Digital cable boxes used by companies such as Rogers and Shaw include a CableCard that allows users to watch and record digital television shows. The CableCards feature functionality (technically known as CGMS-A) that allows broadcasters and cable companies to establish limits on recording programs.

And it sounds like Canadian Broadcasters want to block recording:

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters recently told the CRTC that consumers who record television shows for later viewing, whether on a VCR or PVR, violate the law.

It seems like Digital Rights Management is going to become more and more a part of every day life.