Microsoft DRM to Become More Restrictive

Published on September 21, 2006 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

So you bought some music from an online site like WalMart's music store, or any other service that gives you a DRM-wrapped. Today, you have a license associated with your purchased music that tells Windows Media Player that the files are in fact yours and allows you to play them. Currently, you can move your license files around to any PC you own that you want to play your music on. It's a cumbersome method, but it makes it possible to share purchased music on a network.

Enter Windows Media Player 11, the latest and greatest from Microsoft in "We're not going to let you play that" technology. In WMP 11, you can't backup your licenses. If you want to play your music on another system, you'll have to jump through hoops set by whichever retailer you purchased the music from. And since each retailer can set their own restrictions on copies or number of authorized systems, you'll be left with a collection of music that has completely inconsistent rules wrapped around it.

Also, are you a fan of Windows Media Center Edition 2005? Do you use that system as a DVR for archiving your favorite shows and movies? Well, with WMP 11, you'll have 3 days to view the recorded content if it's flagged as protected content by the broadcaster.

These are listed as "Known Issues", but are they the sort of known issues that will see a fix, or are they simply acknowledging issues that are going to frustrate users? Microsoft is known for turning bugs into "undocumented features".

Comments

MarkSnyder61

on Sep 21, 2006

This is a real sore spot with me. I started buying WMA files from WalMart Music Store for my Zen but after going through two OS reinstalls and replacing a harddrive I quickly learned that the backup of licenses wasn't worth squat. The restoring of the licenses said they were restored okay but none of my files would play. I don't know how many times I had to get WalMart to reissue the licenses. Although WalMart handled my situation fairly quickly, I vow to never again buy music with ANY on-line service EVER! I still prefer having the original CD even if it costs me $3.00 more!

Stoop Solo

on Sep 21, 2006

"Plays for Sure" indeed.

Life is a Game

on Sep 22, 2006

Well I guess a way around it would be burning them to an audio CD and then rip them as unprotected MP3s?

starkers

on Sep 22, 2006

Well I guess a way around it would be burning them to an audio CD and then rip them as unprotected MP3s?

Never ever have I purchased online music, nor will I ever, so this method you suggest is the one I've always used. I rip desired tracks from my purchased CD's and create WMA or MP3 files, depending on the format required. I have a portable CD player that plays regular audio discs as well as WMA a MP3 files, so I don't suppose it really matters. Never got around to investing in a MP3 player, never really saw a need, being as I already have music portability anyhow, but I may eventually get one purely for the convenience of not having to change discs, etc.

Besides, I own several ripping/burning suites from Nero, Creative and Ashampoo, etc, so I don't need to rely on WMP 11 for media transfer/creation...though it often is my player of choice when listening to music on my PC.

Keikonium

on Sep 22, 2006

What is this "buying music" you are all refering to

?

Not to make DRM even worse, but if they really wanted to keep it purly for the buyer (that the right word?) they should have burn protection. So it strictly can't be burnt onto the CD. Or have it unplayable by another source... or when ripped you get a bogus file.

I'll stick to limewire

Tombalaci

on Sep 22, 2006

This type of protection that makes it a living hell for users simply makes it even more tempting to go the piracy route. When are these music companies going to realize that? You either make it easily available or the pirated versions are going to be more convenient. Yea, yea, the whole mumbo jumbo about honesty and stuff is great, but a lot of people do not feel bad about not filling the pockets of the fat music companies by purchasing overpriced titles and instead supporting their artists in other ways, such as concerts. So you restrict the Media Center's DVR capabilities... they'll find a different software that doesn't have that limitation and use that instead. Big deal...

werewolf

on Sep 22, 2006

" Well I guess a way around it would be burning them to an audio CD and then rip them as unprotected MP3s? "

I don't have an Apple, nor an Ipod or is it iPod...whatever.

I do use iTunes to purchase music and I really don't mind burning a CD and then ripping the tracks to unlicensed wma's. Since it is currently allowed I will continue.

I don't have licensing issues to worry about and I can broadcast all my music on my home network.

I really don't mind paying $9.99 for a 25 track CD either.

garycoryer

on Sep 23, 2006

Well, I hate to vouch for a DRM system but I use RealPlayer and so far they have been great about moving music from one computer to another. I copy over the music files manually and then register the new computer with the Real Music Store and voila, everything works. If I remember correctly, they allow you to register up to five machines. I have my home computer and work laptop registered so I can listen either place. I just upgraded my home machine within the last month and moving the files and registering was trivial. Note I'm not using the subscription service but have purchased music files. Replicates nicely to my Palm T3 also for listening on the road.
GaryC

Sea Hourse

on Sep 23, 2006

This is the primary reason I have no intention of installing Vista on my computer. DRM is the proverbally camel's nose under the tent flap. The media industry, including Microsoft, have proved over and over again that their interests are anti consumer. They can talk all they want about the need to protect their creations from piracy but their actions clearly show that they refuse to embrace modern technology.

Users of media content are demanding portability and ownership with the right to do whatever they wish with their purchase. The sellers of the media content are doing their best to restrict how and where their products are used to the point where it is seriously being discussed to outright end actual ownership of the content on the part of the consumer. You would pay for the content on an ongoing basis which would then allow you to use the media ONLY where the provider dictates and ONLY so long as you continued to pay the monthly charge and use the provider's specified media player. Nothing is said about improving the quality of the media or lowering its price. Or allowing the user to customize their media experience except within the narrowly defined limits set by the providers.

The fact that MS intends to incorporate within its software the ability to instantly "erase" the user's access to property that they have already purchased shows a serious lack of judgement. I don't feel the least bit sorry for these companies in their failures to this point to stem piracy and I wish them only future unhappiness. They have brought this marketing disaster upon themselves.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!