AfterDawn: News

Microsoft changes policy on MSN Music DRM

Microsoft has announced that it will be extending the effective lifespan of all music purchased from its now defunct MSN Music service.

When the service shut down, Microsoft imposed an August 31st deadline for the shutdown of its DRM servers effectively stopping users from authorizing the music they had purchased when the service was up and running. It appears the software giant has had a change of heart and will now extend the life of the music until "at least" 2011. Despite the new decision, the company still warns users to make permanent backups and not just leave the music on portable media players. In 2011, Microsoft will reexamine the servers and extend the period if users still require it.



The original decision had been criticized by users and was a glowing reminder of the risks of using DRM to "protect" music.

Since the close of the MSN Music service, Microsoft has been pushing its customers towards the Zune Marketplace or URGE as preferred online music services.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 19 Jun 2008 18:01

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• 12 comments

• iluvendo

  M$ felt the heat,and was without A/C

  19.6.2008 19:13 #1

• o0cynix0o

  This is the problem with DRM. People who were suckered into using this service and aren't so tech smart and can't remove the DRM their selves are going to be screwed after 2011.

  19.6.2008 19:20 #2

• DSWarrior

  DRM is stupid...like paying music download services...DRM simply sucks (at least for me)...

  19.6.2008 22:02 #3

• 5fdpfan

  It's laughable how easy it is to cirumvent DRM protection from video and auio files. I guess not enough people know how to beat it though cause it's still in use. I feel sorry for those who aren't in the know about defeat this flimsy form of digital security. It basically boils down to two choices. Either find out how to beat it or sit back and let yourselves be victims of the greedy music industry. Of course there's alswys the other option but that's far more risky and a pretty silly route if you can afford not to.

  19.6.2008 22:43 #4

• pensfan12

  Maybe they should offer non-drm copies to all purchases and close the servers down on August 31st.

  20.6.2008 02:31 #5

• nobrainer

  at least m$ backed down to public opinion, even if it is just for now unlike the other services that just said "screw u, pay again", al a, sony connect, yahoo, google, ect.
  
  contract terms - “You may not sell, rent, lease, distribute, broadcast, sublicense or otherwise assign any rights to the Digital Content or any portion of it to any third party, and you may not remove any proprietary notices or labels on the Digital Content. In addition, you may not, and you will not encourage, assist or authorize any other person to, bypass, modify, defeat or circumvent security features that protect the Digital Content.”
  
  DRM is about controlling media, blocking format shifting, unless you give the studios fees and forcing everyone to purchase the same media over and over again.
  
  boycott DRM'ed crapware and the MPAA and RIAA as these are the ppl at the forefront of pushing for tighter legislation.
  
  http://www.learnoutloud.com/content/blog...op_10_argu.html
  
  Originally posted by link: The Top 10 Arguments Against DRM
  
  1. DRM doesn't prevent illegal use of files, it just makes it a bit more difficult to access them.
  
  2. All it takes is one person to crack the file and it can be made available to everyone.
  
  3. Anyone selling content on CD is already selling unprotected files anyway.
  
  4. DRM adds a lot of costs for content producers (who is making the DRM and pushing for tighter legislation and a key member of the MPAA/RIAA?)
  
  5. There's a huge hidden cost in trying to sell DRM'ed content
  
  6. Often the costs of the DRM are passed along to the consumer as well.
  
  7. DRM-free content will play on your device of today and your device of tomorrow
  
  8. Your media devices of the future will be significantly different than your media devices of the present.
  
  9. DRM fundamentally changes who is control of your media.
  
  10. Whenever you buy DRM'ed content you support the system of DRM
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXDhXqR-SE
  
  

  The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

  20.6.2008 04:45 #6

• thomasz12

  That's all useful. Thank to share them.

  20.6.2008 04:56 #7

• mspurloc

  This fixes nothing!
  It's just a delaying tactic.
  Give everybody, even Grandma, a simple tool that strips out your cr*p DRM, Microsoft.
  You made a mistake, now own up to it.
  If the labels complain, tough.
  Nobody's buying music from your store anymore, anyway, and I would assume those contracts are not going to be renewed.
  This is why I only buy DRM-free tracks, or rip what I already own and I'd bet it's the same for everyone here.

  22.6.2008 12:24 #8

• DSWarrior

  Right on brother! No DRM-crap for me! I hate copy-protected songs...it's a lot better to buy DRM-free and rip owned CDs. that way it's YOUR music and no one decides what you do or not do with it!

  22.6.2008 14:59 #9

• littlekey

  Some software like SPAM removed can give you stomach upsets

  23.6.2008 03:08 #10

• FredBun

  nobrainer, good info.

  28.6.2008 22:33 #11

• gallagher

  Yeah, I bought some. But guess what? I am not the idiot who was stupid enough to keep the DRM on the files. Even if you didn't use a program to debug them, you could easily have just saved them to a CD and copied them back.
  
  I am all for helping out the customer, but after enough time, the idiot needs to be punished for being and idiot and not remedying the situation. This is one of those times.
  
  Stop supporting that old crap and just move on.

  11.9.2008 06:18 #12