A flip4mac surprise?

Curt Chandler reports over on Newspaper Video that Flip4Mac, that annoying plug-in Mac users have had to install to play Windows Media Video ever since Microsoft quit making Windows Media Player for the Mac, may not be so free after all.

Chandler says he found that the plug-in also prevents converting .wmv files into Flash video (using the CS3 encoder), "or anything else using Final Cut without getting an overlay that reads 'produced with flip4mac demo' " unless you pay $30 to upgrade to the "Pro" version.

Chandler says he paid his $30 because constantly installing and uninstalling the little bugger is a time suck.

If that's the case, then the folks behind flip4mac and Microsoft, which hosts the free download on its site, have some 'splainin to do because this "feature" sure isn't clear on the Web site, near as I can see.

Anyone else run into this?