DRM Disaster: Microsoft to Close MSN Music License Servers
Microsoft is stoking the anti-DRM fires with its decision to close its PlaysForSure licensing server that was tied to the shuttered MSN Music store. This will be a hard pill to swallow for those that bought music tracks at the MSN Music store. Come September, when Microsoft says it will retire the licensing server, music tracks purchased from MSN Music before 2006 will only playback on PCs with PlaysForSure DRM installed.
This doesn't mean that the music is disappearing or becoming invalid, it simply means that it will no longer be able to transfer the music to another computer.
Cut Microsoft Some Slack?
With that being said, Microsoft is giving its MSN Music faithful until the end of the summer to find the final resting spot for music, as afterward the licensing server will be gone and music will be stuck at its last authenticated spot. The DRM protection that accompanied music purchased from the MSN Music store limited songs to use on up to five different computers. This was more than enough for the average user.
I don't blame Microsoft for doing this and I definitely won't use this circumstance to blast DRM and everything it entails. Microsoft took a risk launching MSN Music and it failed, so there's no need to continue funneling money into the project, even at the risk of customer service and loyalty. At least Microsoft was nice enough to send out an email to its prior users warning of the impending closing of the licensing server.
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But you miss the point. This IS one of the best arguments against this type of DRM and also against the server-based authentication Microsoft has in ALL of their major products. When they shutoff the server the end-user is SCREWED no matter how much they paid for the software or music. This is literally the equivalent of Microsoft coming to your house and locking a CD in your car CD player. If your car is sold or quits working you've lost the music you paid for becuase it is locked inside by Microsoft.
But you miss the point. This IS one of the best arguments against this type of DRM and also against the server-based authentication Microsoft has in ALL of their major products. When they shutoff the server the end-user is SCREWED no matter how much they paid for the software or music. This is literally the equivalent of Microsoft coming to your house and locking a CD in your car CD player. If your car is sold or quits working you've lost the music you paid for becuase it is locked inside by Microsoft.
All MSN Music customers were told this was coming about a year ago. All new customers of the service have been redirected to the Zune marketplace a year ago. This is not news to them. Microsoft also provided very clear info on how to burn the tracks to CD for preservation and how to get all their PC's licensed.
This is a hack job article to drive page views on this site since that's the sole source of revenue.
I don't blame Microsoft in this instance as much as I blame the the recording industry for mandating all kinds of horrible DRM implementations that they negotiate with these tech vendors. Follow the dollars, who profits out of this? It's not Microsoft when you go else where pony up more dollars for the same music. It will be the service people flock to (doesn't matter which) and you guessed it, the royalties paid out to the RIAA & the artists. The common factor there is the recording industry.
This can theoretically happen with the iTunes DRM also. However, they have three things going for them: 1. They're the biggest retailer & their market-share isn't dropping. 2. They have a DRM-free selection 3. They don't offer multiple services for the same thing
Microsoft had "personally" never invested in WM-DRM beyond MSN Music. The Zune ecosystem was a fresh start for them. They made some good and bad decisions there: 1. They started with a clean slate. This allowed for fewer problems, but broke compatibility with existing WM-DRM songs/devices 2. They went partially DRM free & added a DRM-subscription service. This also allowed them new sales + complete point-of-access control a la Apple, but competed against other subscription services 3. Operating both MSN Music & Zune Marketplace was driving an axe through their own foot.
However, WM-DRM is far from dead. It's true that many service providers have left the game: e.g. Yahoo Music sent it's customers over to Rhapsody. The Microsoft+MTV joint venture, Urge, died a quick death & ALSO migrated its users to Rhapsody. However, Microsoft has no benefit from closing down WM-DRM altogether. It makes a bunch of money by simply licensing the technology, while keeping the Zune system safe. The two major WM-DRM providers now are Rhapsody & Napster, which is good, in a way, because of consolidation of catalogues & points-of-access. The primary service offered by both is subscription. Libraries in the US are using the WM-DRM based Overdrive digital audio+e-book system even now, because it fits their needs best. Manufacturers like Sandisk, Creative, Samsung, Sony, Creative & iRiver still support WM-DRM playback & are going strong. Windows XP & Vista (largest market-share) still play it. Only Apple & Microsoft devices (& Mac OS & Linux-es) can't access WM-DRM stuff
Technically, WM-DRM is still the best model for subscription services. The to-buy version of music is going (as it rightly should) DRM-free.
Till then, those of us who are invested in multiple DRM-ed services, must rely on FairUse4WindowMedia, DRMdbg, Hymn and "CD"-based ripping for "inter-operatability"