Microsoft is to introduce hardware-linked security technology with Windows XP Service Pack 2, and beyond that will make "additions to Windows" supporting the technology, execution protection (NX). The feature is already supported by shipping AMD K8 and Intel Itanium processor families, and according to Microsoft: "It is expected that future 32 and 64-bit processors will provide execution protection.
"Microsoft is preparing for and encouraging this trend by supporting execution protection in its Windows operating systems." So is it DRM?
Read more: The Register.