The latest front in the war against your fair use rights is radio recording. Creative has tucked a nasty surprise into a firmware update to its Zen models which removes the ability to record live FM radio and save it as an mp3 file. The firmware update forces you to choose; either take the update to get Audible support video zooming and better language support or, skip firmware updates from here on out and keep your FM recording ability.

The RIAA sued XM radio months ago for it's purpose built XM2go device which allows users to record satellite radio, a device designed to specifically live within existing Fair Use recording laws. Creative's move may have been prompted by the perceived pressure of a possible lawsuit as well, although the feature removed from Creative's Zen falls clearly under the Home Recording Act.

[via Engadget]