“So far as the yet very quiet forums are claiming, a new app called FairUse4WM can be used to strip Windows Media DRM 10 and 11 (i.e. PlaysForSure, but not WM DRM 9). Yes, yes, we know, we’ve heard this song and dance before. But before we proceed, let’s just be totally clear on how the system works: providers like Napster and Yahoo Music Unlimited provide subscription service for unlimited access to Windows Media DRMed files; stop paying the fee, stop getting access to the files — but you already knew all this. We tried FairUse4WM and we can verify that it quickly and easily stripped the DRM from our Napster To Go tracks, and made them freely available to play on our Mac (which, of course, has Flip4Mac installed). In other words, it’s a simple, apparently lossless, one-step method for making your files playable after you’re no longer paying fees on your subscription service,” Ryan Block reports for Engadget.
“Now watch as Microsoft shuts down the forums and runs damage control in order to prevent an digital media entire platform from collapsing,” Block writes. “P.S. – Here are some links to the app (no, we can’t verify their validity, and yes, we take absolutely zero accountability for what you may do with it): here, here, and here.”
Full article here.
Aw gee, that’s too bad, isn’t it? We have to wonder if one (or more) of Microsoft’s “partners” leaked a bit before they potentially get “Zuned.” DUCK, FLYING CHAIR!!!
That damn Karma is such a royal bitch.
And, all this just when Microsoft is getting ready to lay some big thick PlaysForSure-based Zune bricks, too. Tsk, tsk. At least the name finally fits: it actually will PlayForSure now. Coffin, Nail. Nail, Coffin.
Related articles:
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
In wake of Zune, Microsoft ‘partners’ consider abandoning PlaysForSure – July 25, 2006
Enderle: Microsoft’s ‘PlaysForSure’ going to be a long-term problem for Apple – January 09, 2006
Napster’s dirty little secret: changing subscription services into downloads is easy – February 18, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs warns record industry of Napster To Go’s security gap – February 16, 2005
Users thwart Napster To Go’s copy protection; do the music labels realize the piracy potential? – February 15, 2005
Napster-To-Go’s ‘rental music’ DRM circumvented – February 14, 2005
Microsoft debuts ‘PlaysForSure’ logo to signify incompatiblity with Apple iPod, iTunes Music Store – October 15, 2004
I’m surprised it took anyone this long to figure out how to do it. Now, let the battle of the hackers begin…..
It’s not called “PlaysForSure” for nothing!
YES!!!!!!!!! I CAN FINALLY UNLOCK MY PRON THAT I’VE BEEN SAVING FOR 6 MONTHS CAUSE I THOUGHT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD COME OUT!! WOOT WOOT!!
This could be very good for apple
If they said that “we have 70 pecent market in our music store, yet it has never been hacked”
and so ends the market share virus fud
Wait, wait, wait…..this is a better first post – “HackedForSure”.
OK, now you guys go…..
PlayedForSure™
or
PwnedForSure™
go ahead celebrate. all this will lead to is national taxes on isp firms and media players to pay for the content.
“congratulations”
Aww why can’t someone crack the iTMS 6.0 DRM, I’m stuck in the last century with a creative player that can’t play encrypted stuff from iTunes…oh well ill stick with iTunes 5.0 for now…with my iBook, JHymn, and XNJB.
Right – time to head over to Napster for a free trial and stock up big time!!
@Congradulations
Maybe in socialist Canada, but in America the idea of charging an ISP or a tax on media players based on the assumption that people are going to share/steal music would never ever work. There would be riots in the streets. (Sorry for the dig on canada and solcialism. I’m actually fond of both but I think this specific policy is really stupid)
Does this work only for Plays4Sure? or any WM 10 or 11 protection schemes. None of my pr0n is plays4sure.
1) Fire up XP via Boot Camp
2) FairUse4WM
3) “Subcribed to Napster or one of the others.
4) Download tons of music.
5) Cancel subscription (complete #4 before end of free trial)
6) Strip away DRM.
7) Convert files into AAC format.
8) Laugh a Ballmer…
There is an argument that says that we Mac users should download the relevant files and make sure they’re BitTorrent/Limewired to death.
R,
That is what I was thinking. Fill up that 30 gig iPod…..mmmm……
Even though I’d love to see Napster et al go bye-bye (I hate the way they threw bricks at the ITMS and FairPlay just to get free press during their start up endeavor), I almost feel sorry for M$ (almost).
Even though M$ is the “dark side”, you gotta be careful supporting this type of DRM hacking. Hackers have no allegiance, and Apple could be next.
I wonder if Apple’s Fairplay DRM will be hacked. I’m sure it has been attempted. This would be the real iPod killer or at least an iTunes killer. I would, for that reason, not be celebrating as an AAPL owner.
LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son,
JHymn works, but not for iTunes 6.0.
http://www.hymn-project.org/jhymndoc/
LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son,
Apple doesn’t offer a subscription service, so iTunes Music Store content is not at risk in vast uncontrollable numbers like a Napster To Go, for example.
Any iTMS-purchased song can have the FairPlay DRM-stripped though normal use – burn it to a CD. Hasn’t killed iTMS or iPod, yet.
Jay
In case you haven’t noticed our current government is conservative not liberal. Our PM may be more right-winged than GWB (but at least he knows how to pronounce nuclear …lol)
Jay,
In 1898 the U.S. began taxing telephone connections to pay for the Spanish-American War. The tax has just been repealed in 2006. That’s 108 years of paying for the S-A War. The gov’t. could do anything in the way of taxes.
The Colossus of Redmond and it’s CinC Steve ‘Prince of Darkness’ Baldmer, are not amused.
Magic Word went
as in there it went, right down the sh*tter.
If anything happens to Microsoft, anything at all, I swear to you I will get very choked up. Honestly, there could be tears.
Thanks Anon and Fred Mertz. I did not know about JHymn and had forgotten the facts that iTunes downloaded music can already be stripped of DRM. This has allayed my worries. So given that lesson by our helpful posters, celebrate with abandon the destruction of the wanabee competitors’ business plans. YES!!!!
sorry Jay, it’s been done before in the US. As a matter of fact there are still some taxes in place designed to offset content theft.
so hackers are just simply playing into the governments’ hands.
so again..”congratulatutions”
From the comments to the full article: “Conspiracy theory: Microsoft leaked this tool to collapse the PlaysForSure market to make way for Zune.”
i wouldn’t put it past them
PlaysForFree