Exclusive: Zune Facing Legal Issues in Canada

We managed to find insider information about the problems Microsoft has with the Canadian release of the Zune and probably other countries as well. In an internal e-mail, Canadian employees of Microsoft were told not to expect their Zune for the holidays. Period!

Legal and contractual issues with music publishers related to the Zune pass and sharing capabilities are giving the Zune team headaches these days. We could not have specific information on other countries, but Microsoft is probably facing the same kind of issues in other parts of the world.

Microsoft seems to have a hard time selling its Zune pass and sharing features to both users and music publishers. As implemented, the Zune DRM – (3plays-3days) is considered too limited by the users and it scares music publishers. The Zune pass is also a new model for major music publishers that are historically not used to make fast moves.

With only 2 million songs available in the Zune Marketplace, the Microsoft music store is considered limited compared to 3.5 million songs available at iTunes for the iPod users.

Microsoft also told their Canadian employees that they will have the chance to buy the Zune at $225CAD ($200USD) when it becomes available in Canada. That’s a good price! Isn’t it? Too bad they won't get it for the holidays.

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Comments

[preet]

TOO BAD??? wut do u mean by too bad seriously evryone is getting very impatientt. u no wut id rather buy it for $50 more if u guys would sell it in canada noww...SELL IT IN CANADA TOO.. becuz im not ready to wait for months i was hoping to wait for like2 weeks maximum, and i hoopeee u wont make more consumers as angry as meee

[Shane]

If the Zune isn't out by july or early august im getting a creative Zen. so they better hurry up with those problems because im tierd of waiting.