The Software Protection service is Windows 8 has a long, unhelpful description:
Enables the download, installation and enforcement of digital licenses for Windows and Windows applications. If the service is disabled, the operating system and licensed applications may run in a notification mode. It is strongly recommended that you not disable the Software Protection service.
What does this even mean? Is there any consequence to disabling the service apart from MS wanting me to? I am definitely NOT interested in getting around intellectual property, I just don't want crapware running on my PC and slowing it down or possibly causing system instability.
On a separate note, the description of various services has become rather more vague compared with Windows XP...and there are many more of them. My best guess this is done to intimidate non-superusers from touching the service, whereas the description should really be about being informative and helpful. Users can then make up their own minds.