DRM and wma

[adamyoung]

Ive got some music downloaded in WMA and its protected by digital rights management.

 

I need to move it to another comp (of mine) using a pendrive.

 

How can i transfer (better still disable) the licence?

 

Thanks!

[plexer]

You can't disable it. The whole point of drm is to stop you sharing files thus there is no easy way to transfer the licence to another computer either as that would be a circumvention of what DRM is there to acheive.

 

The only thing you can do is try to get a new licence from where you got the music in the first place.

 

Ben

[Michael]

There is no method to crack or break the DRM code, however there are legal ways to bypass it. Tunebite gets around the problem by making an analogue recording whilst playing the WMA DRM protected file in Windows Media Player 10 in real time. Once the track has finished playing, a copy in MP3 format is produced instantly.

[OutToLunch]

Actually, it depends on what version of WMA DRM is in use on the file... There was a tool doing the rounds a while ago that would happily strip DRM from WMA/WMV providing you hadn't upgraded to WMP10. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to go into anymore specifics than that, but it is googleable.

[plexer]

Yes there was a method but it was damn complicated unless I missed an easy to use gui tool to do the same.

 

If you still have access to the old machine it's on and not just a copy of the file tunebite looks like a way to do it.

 

If you don't have access to the old machine I think you're stuffed.

 

Ben

[Geoff]

Removing the DRM on the file is a criminal offence btw. Also telling people how to circumvent the copy protects is equally criminal.

[Michael]

@Geoff - Below is all the legal information regarding Tunebite:

 

Important Legal Information about Copyright Law and Using Tunebite

 

Intended Usage

Tunebite does not copy or defeat copy-protection measures. It creates unprotected, private-use copies of copy-protected music and video files. Its sole purpose is to allow users to play media they have legally purchased on devices they own that do not support copy-protection formats. Tunebite is offered exclusively for sale to private users and is intended for private use only.

 

Installation and Use

Purchasing a Tunebite license entitles the user to install and use the software on his or her own PC. Usage of Tunebite obligates the user to comply with international copyright law. The use and/or misuse of Tunebite is at your own risk.

 

Information about Apple Play Fair and Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Online music platforms in the Internet offer music tracks for purchase and download in various copy-protected formats like Apple Play Fair, Microsoft Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Sony Atrac. The various formats are designed to help prevent piracy and misuse through application of a wide variety of usage limitations.

 

Limitation of Use

Music or video files recorded with Tunebite may not be shared with third parties or made available for third-party access. The exchange, giving or sale of Tunebite recordings is forbidden by international copyright law and can lead to criminal prosecution by the copyright holder. The user assumes all liability for personal or third-party misuse of Tunebite or recordings made with Tunebite. RapidSolution Software AG expressly disclaims any and all liabilities for the misuse of Tunebite or recordings created with Tunebite.

 

Copyright Law and the Legal Consequences of Misuse

Any user who installs Tunebite on his or her PC, records music tracks and/or video clips and transfers or makes these available to other individuals no matter in which form or for what purposemakes himself liable and punishable under international copyright law and is subject to criminal prosecution by the injured parties. Individuals that have received files that have been recorded with Tunebite are likewise punishable under these same laws.

 

My personal view is that it doesn't break the DRM, but simply makes an unprotected recording (which for personal use is legal), however the distribution of MP3 files is illegal as they are copyrighted material. The trouble is not all music players support the same formats or DRM, unlike a CD from a store which will work in any CD player.

[OutToLunch]

If we're going to dot the i and cross the ts, I believe DRM circumvention in the UK is a civil, not criminal offence? I don't think we've gone quite as far as the US of DMCA yet...

[Norphy]

It might not break the DRM but it is still bypassing it. Bypassing any method of copy protection be it Fairplay, WMA, Macrovision or whatever is illegal under the EU Copy Directive.

[Geoff]

That advice is valid in America. There is no such concept of fair use here (which is what that advice is relying on). For example, it's illegal in this country to copy a CD to tape to play in your car. Where as Americans have this action protected by fair use (although the DMCA seriously erodes this privileged). The provisions for 'Fair Dealing' in UK copyright law are *NOT* the same by a long shot.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Dealing

 

The 2003 amendments to the copyright act make it illegal to circumvent copy protection schemes. It also makes it illegal to discuss circumventing copy protection schemes.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_the_United_Kingdom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIPO_Copyright_Treaty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU_Copyright_Directive

 

Practically though, the worst that will happen is that Edugeek.net would get a Cease and Desist letter/email and the thread would have to be removed.

[Geoff]

If we're going to dot the i and cross the ts, I believe DRM circumvention in the UK is a civil, not criminal offence? I don't think we've gone quite as far as the US of DMCA yet...

 

Criminal offence. Up to 10 years in jail and an unlimited fine. Per offence.

[webman]

We all might as well go back to portable CD players and CDs if it's this much trouble moving a file from one computer to another One more reason that DRM is a Bad Thing.

[Geoff]

I entirely agree. DRM is fundamentally flawed as a concept. Because it's technically flawed the media companies prop it up with some laws they've bought. Really what they are attempting to do is rein in some disruptive technology (the Internet) so they can preserve their traditional business models.

 

Of course history tells us this never works. There's plenty of Industrial revolution era examples. (Steam Engine, Rail road, Power Loom, etc). I'll leave you with a quote:

 

"You would make a ship sail against the winds and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I have no time for such nonsense." - Napoleon

 

Subsequently Napoleon lost 4 ships to an experimental British ironclad at the battle of the nile. We all know what happened next.

[webman]

Absolutely Geoff. I read a very long article on the subject a while ago (written nearly 2 years ago): Microsoft Research DRM talk which highlights some of the pitfalls that the industries seem to be ignoring and/or pretend don't exist.

[OutToLunch]

If we're going to dot the i and cross the ts, I believe DRM circumvention in the UK is a civil, not criminal offence? I don't think we've gone quite as far as the US of DMCA yet...

 

Criminal offence. Up to 10 years in jail and an unlimited fine. Per offence.

 

IANAL, but you're quoting from the top end of the scale... The penalties for large scale / commercial infringement are in a different ball park from the penalty for stripping the DRM from files you bought from the iTunes store to play on your normal MP3 player. Either way, everytime this comes it it just serves to remind me why I don't buy anything in DRM encumbered WMA/V or from iTunes

[Geoff]

Indeed. The both the FSF and the EFF have some good articles on the subject too. In paticular there's some good essay's written by Richard Stallman on the subject.

 

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.html

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/opposing-drm.html

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html

[E1uSiV3]

I buy all of my CDs for the reasons being discussed here, i own one DRM protected CD which incedently dont use (i didnt realise it was DRMed till i bought it)

[Ric_]

Just a thought... could you not burn it to an audio CD and then rip that CD on the other computer?

 

I expect it depends on the way that the DRM works though. You would think it should be possible to move DRM-ed music to another computer when you upgrade though.

[Michael]

@Ric_ - WMA DRM files can be copied to another computer or device, however if that other computer or device can't find a license, you won't be able to play the file!

 

I tried many years ago burning a WMA DRM file as an audio CD and Nero just won't do it. Nero will quite happily burn non protected WMA or of course MP3 files as an audio CD or as a file back up. DRM stops you converting the music file using traditional methods. Tunebite however is undetectable by say Windows Media Player, which is why you can make an analogue copy in real time, which is then compiled in MP3 format.

[Ric_]

@Michael: Haven't played with this much but can you not use Windows Media Player to burn the CD?

[Michael]

To be totally honest Ric_, music CD's are a thing of the past for me as all my music collection is in MP3 format. You can of course rip traditional MP3 or WMA files to a CD, but whether you can rip WMA DRM files I am unsure. If you can't, you'll get a message(s) to do with licenses.

 

If you can't rip it, then Tunebite it first and then burn the MP3 file as an audio CD which will work in any CD player!

[gwendes]

Surely this doesn't apply to WMA files that the students produce. We have audio recorders that are used for the radio station here and they record to WMA. I have to strip this for Audacity to touch it- is that naughty?

[Geoff]

breaking DRM is a criminal offence.

[gwendes]

breaking DRM is a criminal offence.

 

The WMA format doesn't always have DRM so we're safe converting the students work from WMA to Mp3 or WAV.

 

click here