I appreciate the desire to protect one’s intellectual property as much as the next guy, but this is kind of creepy, if you ask me.

Microsoft, evidently, has applied for a patent under the title “Content Distribution Regulation By Viewing User.”

OK, that sounds sort of dicey… but let’s hope that the summary of the concept is less Orwellian than its title. It has to be… right?

Well, here is the summary:

A content presentation system and method allowing content providers to regulate the presentation of content on a per-user-view basis. Content is distributed an associated license option on the number of individual consumers or viewers allowed to consume the content. Consumers are presented with a content selection and a choice of licenses allowing consumption of the content. The users consuming the content on a display device are monitored so that if the number of user-views licensed is exceeded, remedial action may be taken.

Hmmm. Somehow, I’m not nearly as reassured as I’d hoped I would be after reading that.

To read the full patent application, go here.