A patent application from Microsoft has been discovered for a technology called "control-based content pricing," which would essentially set different prices for different functions on the TV remote, reports GeekWire. More specifically, the patent revolves around the concept of dynamic pricing of video content based on the user's preferences, which could charge the user for functions such as skipping advertisements or watching replays during sporting events.
The patent, which was filed in November, 2011, describes the technology as such:
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. This provides an advertisement revenue model that reflects user viewing choices and selections during playback of requested on-demand media, and enables targeted advertising and media content delivery, while maintaining consumer privacy. ...
Control-based content pricing allows for user-personalized pricing where price is a direct function of user viewing interaction. Further, the pricing may be expressed as a debit function, such as a debit to receive an on-demand movie, or as a credit function, such as a credit to watch an advertisement or infomercial before receiving the on-demand movie. The credit and/or debit functions of the pricing may also be based on view control inputs, such as content navigation inputs, received as user-input commands initiated with a remote control device.
A Microsoft spokesperson gave GeekWire a short statement via email, saying, "Microsoft regularly applies for and receives patents as part of its business practice. Not all patents applied for or received will be incorporated into a Microsoft product." This is, of course, absolutely true, as large corporations file lots of patents, many of which may never be realized in real-world applications. That said, would you be happy with a system that charged you for re-watching that touchdown?
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