RSSMicrosoft to end support for MSN Music DRM
By Jacqueline Emigh | Published April 23, 2008, 3:09 PM
As of August 31 of this year, Microsoft's "Plays for Sure" technology -- once codenamed Janus -- will no longer play for sure -- unless, that is, users play back the tunes on the same computers and OS forever.
In a move that's come under concerted attack by users ranging from anti-DRM music bloggers to Linux fans, Microsoft has disclosed plans to stop providing authorization keys for songs downloaded from the old MSN Music service.
In an e-mail Tuesday, Microsoft told customers of the former MSN Music -- which was shut down and replaced by Zune Markeplace in 2006 -- that as of August 31, 2008 support will stop for "the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased on MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers."
Many users are expressing their displeasure, including someone who offered an online definition of Janus as a Roman god "depicted with two faces on opposite sides of his head."
Although the music will continue to play on computers that have been authorized by that date, users will no longer be able to transfer tunes to any other machine, or even to play them on the same PC if they change operating systems, including upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
Up to now, Plays For Sure DRM technology has allowed ex-MSN Music subscribers to switch authorization to new machines and OS, so long as they keep abiding by a previously imposed limit of five computers. But as of September, the MSN Music approval servers will fade into history, and users will need to stick with the machines and OS they've chosen by then.
The anti-DRM crowd is having a field day lambasting Plays for Sure and other DRM technology. "So does anybody now trust Plays for Sure? I doubt it. This is yet another blunder by the music industry in their ever short-sighted attack on the legitimate consumer. Music has become obsolete before and it will again, but the machine to allow you to play it still exists," wrote Bob Cherry, a blogger for Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News Network.
"When DRM entered the picture, a whole new Pandora's Box was opened. While copyrights may expire and music may some day become free again, the DRM attached to the music may make it unavailable -- and for the first time in history, DRM may actually kill the music because it won't be available for future generations to enjoy," Cherry predicted.
"Remember a few years back when Microsoft launched a new type of DRM under the name 'Plays for Sure?' The idea was to create a standard DRM that a bunch of different online music download stores could use, and which makers of digital music devices could build for -- except, like any DRM, it had its problems. And, like any DRM, its purpose was to take away features, not add them," according to TechDirt blogger Mike Masnick.
"Yet, because Microsoft was behind it, many people assumed that at least Microsoft would keep supporting it. Well, you've now learned your lesson. Plays for Sure was so bad that Microsoft didn't even use it for its own Zune digital media device. Along with that, Microsoft shut down its failed online music store, and now for the kicker, it's telling anyone who was suckered into buying that DRM'd content that it's about to nuke the DRM approval servers that let you transfer the music to new machines."
On a Linux messaging board where Masnick's blog was reposted, users tacked on definitions for both Janus -- a two-faced Roman god -- along with Janus without the "J."
Ahh.. I was wondering when the class-action (the phrase of the century) would come up. I am sure MS will find a way, unlike, Apple, to manage this issue so don't get your panties all tied up in knots and wait before running to the ambulance chasers.
Added note- Don't just look to BN to get the news . Their slant on the news is distinctly anti- MS and if MS does offer a solution it will get buried, if shown here at all, in the netherworld of BN.
After all Creeps like Fulton and the other hack writers know who pays their check.
Have a nice day:)
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|If you back up your licenses, you should still be able to use these files in the event of a reformat...etc. (Even though DRM is complete bulls***)
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|A real pity but bound to happen since first day. I'm glad that it is happening because people will learn with this why DRM is bad. So DRM used in other technologies is pretty much dead as well... just we need more years for it to happen.
But really, they should be forced to reimburse the money to the people who bought a track or let them download the same one without DRM at least. A class action should be filled if not.
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|I agree that the only way to make the online music work and work with the best music format is to eliminate DRM. I would also remind Apple fans that Apple's store may allow you to d/l their music but they don't use the best format and you have to use an IPod as a portable media layer.
So, be fair and Criticize all companies not just ones that you don't like.
Finally, if I am not mistaken it was Sony that originally developed DRM on their cds to stop so-called piracy.
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|Are they telling us that suckers, who PAID for MSN Music's files can't use them any more? THIEVES!!! When do we put Bill Gates and his Micro$haft crooks on trial, just like the little guys who steal a candy bar?
This is why I refuse to buy any downloads laced with DRM of any kind. The RIAA/MPAA can go f--- themselves if they don't like it. What's next; are these crooks gonna run around breaking old vinyl LPs and smashing their white cassette tapes with a hammer? Anything to make us buy their newest technologies. Hell no; I'd rather be a pirate that get ripped off...
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|This is why buying a cd and ripping it yourself is much safer than buying downloads.
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|yeah since it costs 2x as much.
I've only paid for a handful of drm'ed songs, but always ripped it onto a cd-rw and ripped. Sounds stupid and backwards, but it works and makes it so I don't have to spend $20 on a freaking piece of plastic I'd use once to rip the songs onto my computer
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|Not backwards at all. I'm just saying that there are just some people that shouldn't buy downloads because they don't have the common sense to do so.
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|It was always going to be fatal to call it 'Play for Sure'.
The only way you can make anything "Play for Sure" is to make it completely free from DRM and in a sensible format.
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|Typical M$...what does anyone expect? If you were dumb enough to buy a media player from M$ you deserve this.
I can see the same thing happening to M$ Zune content as no one is buying the M$ Zune. I have still never seen one outside of a store.
In fact, i sent an email to five of my friends and asked if any of them have ever seen a M$ Zune outside of a store, and guess what, no one has.
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|Just because you send an email to yourself 5 times doesn't mean you have 5 friends...
Just because your five "friends" have never seen one doesn't mean it exists, I don't know about you but I don't go hunting people down to find out what mp3 player they are using.
I don't see anyone with Iphones, I don't know anyone who owns a Mac and very few people have even heard of Linux, much less use it.
Doesn't make any of those a failure either.
Typical again, you on a Microsoft topic saying the exact same thing you say everytime.
The Zune isn't beating the Ipod but its still selling and the third version of it will go worldwide.
oh and before you do
NO I am not a MS employee
I own an Ipod and a Zune and I do like apples OS, for my needs it doesn't do what I need
Linux is more a pain then I am willing to deal with
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|Praise be to LORD Bill!!!!!! Preach it brother!!!!!!
As for Linux... Its still better than Vista, [smiles]
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|I have a Zune. My son has a Zune. I can probably pull together 5-6 friends with Zunes. I love it and want to buy another (I need a bigger drive) I don't know anybody that has an i-pod.
come out of your hole and join the real world.
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|"I don't know anybody that has an i-pod.
come out of your hole"
This has to be the most unintentionally hilarious comment ever.
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|you have to leave your mom's basement to see a zune
your 5 friends, who elmo and company ?
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|if linux is better (and free) then why does very few use it ?
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|If by very few you mean the 'average user' here's why:
Because the average user would not know how to use it without spending some considerable time up front breaking their Windows habit. They would need to relearn quite a few things such as installing programs, finding alternatives, in some cases having to compile it themselves for it to work with their specific 'distribution'. Where to locate their music, etc. Not to mention i think many users find the many program interfaces to be 'ugly' at best.
Users just don't want to haveto change what they are already familiar with, take Vista for example!
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|dude who the F cares?? oh wait... your "five" friends care!
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|Your hate and five friends you must be drinking and seeing multiple images. These five illusions also need to get out of their parents basements.
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|Your pathetic pit ... and you know it don't you?
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|That's a good point, and I agree that some people just don't adapt as fast to new stuff. Even so, I have done just fine with Vista (had to figure it out just to be able to use my new HP laptop) but then again, I can figure this stuff out much better than some other people so I don't mind it as much.
And on the subject of DRM, I got tired of dealing with it as soon as I had a bad experience related to the subject. I had a lot of Napster songs (the DRM-type Napster, NOT the old-school type from the defunct non-DRM Napster of old) and after having too many PC crashes and a broken MP3 player (that I don't know how it got damaged) I can no longer play the songs from that service, and haven't been able to for a while now. If it were not for Amazon.com's non-DRM service and a few songs backed-up and re-ripped that I got from DRM-based programs to start rebuilding my library of tracks I would be screwed again for sure the next time this kind of thing happens!
For the record, though, I'm sure that Plays for Sure was just a good idea gone sour. Yet even with THAT being said, any DRM platform has its limits -- even a common, shared DRM platform. Belive me, some things don't work out for most of us, and that's especially true even for the Softies. That's just the way it rolls sometimes, and that's perfectly fine with me.
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|Bwahahahahahaha...dude, shutup.
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|BSD is more stable.
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|i don't know anyone who has a zune OR an ipod, so i have you beat.
what's the purpose of this post again?
anyway on to my point, what this decision does is make programs like fairuse4wm that strip the drm license that more popular. instead of fixing piracy, they have actually pretty much ensured music piracy online will exist for a very long time.
i myself use fairuse4wm, but not for sharing purposes. i subscribe to napster and download audiobooks from my library and my mp3 player firmware of choice (rockbox) not only not recognizes wma, but the default firmware (iriver 300 korean 1.3) does not recognize drm licenses. in order to use the files for their intended purpose, i have to strip the files. drm is so anti consumer that almost forces you to specific players you may not like.
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