Cheers for Microsoft for finding another way to nickel-and-dime us to death.
According to GeekWire, Microsoft is seeking a patent on monetizing the buttons of your TV remote (//vny!://www.geekwire.com/2012/microsoft-monetize-buttons-tv-remote). In its application for a patent (//vny!://www.google.com/patents/US8065696) on 'Control-based Content Pricing,' Microsoft explains how one can jack up the cable bill of those who dare fast-forward past a diaper commercial or replay a sports highlight.
From the patent application: '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.'
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that I won't get a refund if I press the "OFF" button.
