Universal to receive $1 from each Zune sale

Microsoft’s Zune media player, due for retail release next week, will have the support of Vivendi Universal in an unusual contract form. For every $249 Zune player sold, Universal will get $1 (subscription required) to make up for the “unauthorized content” the company expects will make its way onto the device.

The music industry seems to be getting worse everyday. $1 for music that could possibly wind up on the device? The sad truth is, Universal can get away with this because they could pull their music out of various music services if they don’t get things their way. Sounds childish, and in a way I guess it is. How this is even legal, is beyond me.