Join for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation plus sign you up to our newsletter.
By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over,
have read our
Privacy Policy
and agree to the
Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
A user of the "Doom9" forums has posted software that claims to be able to remove the digital rights management scheme from Windows Media encoded music files. According to the post, "FairUse4WM" works with Windows Media 10 and Windows Media 11 and only with individualized DRAM files. The simple interface of the software allows users to load keys of licensed Windows Media files and deactivate their copy protection - I order to "enable fair-use rights to purchased media," according to the developer. Engadget has posted a walkthrough to show how the software works.
FairUse4WM interface
Will FairUse4WM cause trouble for Microsoft? Unlikely. The creation and cracking of copy protection mechanisms always has been a cat and mouse game and that won't change in the near future. Microsoft may issue a patch to disable FairUse4WM and calm down music publishers that use Windows DRM on services such as Napster and Yahoo Music. And ultimately, publishers such as Universal have mentioned in the past that they do not view DRM technologies as unbreakable copy protection, but rather as a way to make it more difficult for the masses to illegally distribute or acquire digital media. In that view, FairUse4WM should be of little concern for content owners, at least if Microsoft will come up with a patch in the next days.
Tom's Hardware is the leading destination for hardcore computer enthusiasts. We cover everything from processors to 3D printers, single-board computers, SSDs and high-end gaming rigs, empowering readers to make the most of the tech they love, keep up on the latest developments and buy the right gear. Our staff has more than 100 years of combined experience covering news, solving tech problems and reviewing components and systems.
