Microsoft has signed an agreement with Universal that will see Microsoft contribute a portion of the sales of its Zune mobile media players to the record label. The payment is intended to compensate the label for pirated music that consumers are expected to play on the devices. “This move demonstrates there can be a win-win situation where consumers have a great experience while labels and artists are also fairly compensated,” said Universal chief executive Doug Morris.  Clearly Doug is happy we’re not all running around like Captain Jack Sparrow

Microsoft’s vice president for Entertainment and devices added that “Zune aims to be a leader in supporting artists and enabling the creative possibilities associated with connected entertainment.”

We wonder how long it’ll be until other vendors start charging a Pirate Tax… Arr Jim-lad, that’d be wrong shipmate.