Microsoft DRM to Become More Restrictive
Thursday, September 21, 2006 by Zoomba | Discussion: 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".
Reply #3 Friday, September 22, 2006 2:26 AM
Reply #4 Friday, September 22, 2006 3:14 AM
| 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.
Reply #5 Friday, September 22, 2006 4:17 AM
?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
.Reply #6 Friday, September 22, 2006 1:03 PM
Reply #7 Friday, September 22, 2006 7:57 PM
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.
Reply #8 Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:02 AM
GaryC
Reply #9 Saturday, September 23, 2006 8:27 PM
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.
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Reply #1 Thursday, September 21, 2006 8:29 PM