FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM!

[motivez]

FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM! - Engadget

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. The app didn't work on our Vongo videos, but we can verify with all certainty that yes, Windows Media DRM can now be easily and quickly stripped from PlaysForSure media services. Now watch as Microsoft shuts down the forums and runs damage control in order to prevent an digital media entire platform from collapsing. Click on for a couple more pics of the app in action!

P.S. - Kinda goes without saying but we take absolutely zero accountability for what you may do with FairUse4WM, ok?

[Thanks, Frank]

Time to download this shit. I'm so sick of DRM and Microsoft trying to tell me what I can and can't do with my files..

It's bad enough that every time I get a new piece of hardware I have to justify my actions to them, but DRM just takes it a step further.

Nice to know there's finally something out there that seemingly works

If anyone wants to download it:

http://x.w3rd.org/FairUse4WM.zip

[ballz2wallz]

i have no idea what this means

[7960]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

i have no idea what this means

what? DRM? digital rights management means they control the file, not you.

for instance, if you're paying the monthly fee you can listen to music you downloaded (*paid for*) but if you stop paying the monthly fee, the music you paid to download now won't play. It's you buying a CD with music and them saying "give us $2/month or we'll take the CD back but not give you your money back."

while I think DRM is bullshit, I also think programs the circumvent it and break the law are just as bad.

[beez]

I don't even buy digital media but I'll keep this around for posterity anyway.

[6SpeedTA95]

I dont see what the big deal is with windows registration and monitoring media files.

[kinggovernor]

you still have to buy the drm-ed file

[7960]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

I dont see what the big deal is with windows registration and monitoring media files.

?

If I buy a CD then the songs on it are mine. Fair use says I should be able to move them from the CD to my laptop to my mp3 player to my PDA. Just because it's electronic and "easy" to lock/manage doesn't mean they should be able to dictate what I do with my purchased goods.

[R-Type]

Originally Posted by 7960

while I think DRM is bullshit, I also think programs the circumvent it and break the law are just as bad.

Well, they do keep the industry from getting carried away with invasive protections. I view them as the market 'fighting back' against artifically stacked price points and value propositions. I realize you value the rule of law, but the laws which govern copyrights and patents have been perverted beyond all reason. The politicians who sold out to business whims are the ones I'm truely disappointed with, not the crackers.

As far as software 'activation' goes, I feel it treads on the sovereign ownership of my property. It's not like they have to come to me and 'activate' uses of the money which I gave them for the software rights, nor force them into complicated EULAs which make it difficult to transfer the money to third parties (or fourth or fifth...). From a pragmatic perspective, I change hw configs on my computers weekly, and reactivating is time consuming, and if I were to stay legal, expensive, as I'd have to repurchase windows on a regular basis.

[Kytro]

Originally Posted by 7960

while I think DRM is bullshit, I also think programs the circumvent it and break the law are just as bad.

Why? I can't see any problem with it at all from a moral / ethical standpoint. Breaking protection, that is.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Kytro

Why? I can't see any problem with it at all from a moral / ethical standpoint. Breaking protection, that is.

While I think it's bullshit and believe the law should change, I also think it's stealing.

[7960]

Originally Posted by R-Type

....if I were to stay legal, expensive, as I'd have to repurchase windows on a regular basis.

If you bought your windows CD then you could reload as many times as you want and not have to repurchase the CD.

[motivez]

Can you explain why you think it's illegal?

I think using something like this to create a backup of content you own falls under "fair use"

[7960]

Originally Posted by motivez

I think using something like this to create a backup of content you own falls under "fair use"

I think it should as well. But breaking encryption is illegal.

[R-Type]

Originally Posted by 7960

If you bought your windows CD then you could reload as many times as you want and not have to repurchase the CD.

As I made clear, I was talking about reactivation, not reloading.

[7960]

Originally Posted by R-Type

As I made clear, I was talking about reactivation, not reloading.

No, you didn't make that clear.......

Originally Posted by R-Type

and if I were to stay legal, expensive, as I'd have to repurchase windows on a regular basis.

Why would you have to repurchase windows? And why do you think the inconvenience for you somehow excludes you from having to purchase it?

[JaJae]

I don't see a problem with it. If you don't agree to the license and terms of the purchase, then don't buy it. But stealing is equally wrong.

[R-Type]

Originally Posted by 7960

No, you didn't make that clear.......

yes, I did. please reread my original post in this thread.

Originally Posted by 7960

Why would you have to repurchase windows? And why do you think the inconvenience for you somehow excludes you from having to purchase it?

because after two or three reactivations due to hardware changes they get 'suspicious' and lock the user out by refusing to reactivate. They have my money. I see no reason why I should give them money AGAIN just because they didn't consider every eventuality. My original legit key from years back is useless now. If anything, they stole from me.

Inconvenience? If they're going to make it people jump through hoops to stay compliant, then I have no sympathy for them when people step outside their gimmickry. You can quote rule of law as the end all judgement for everything, but as I said before, it is morally bankrupt if it can be bought.

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by 7960

what? DRM? digital rights management means they control the file, not you.

for instance, if you're paying the monthly fee you can listen to music you downloaded (*paid for*) but if you stop paying the monthly fee, the music you paid to download now won't play. It's you buying a CD with music and them saying "give us $2/month or we'll take the CD back but not give you your money back."

while I think DRM is bullshit, I also think programs the circumvent it and break the law are just as bad.

except you are not buying the music from napster, they made it clear from the beginning

[motivez]

Originally Posted by R-Type

yes, I did. please reread my original post in this thread.

because after two or three reactivations due to hardware changes they get 'suspicious' and lock the user out by refusing to reactivate. They have my money. I see no reason why I should give them money AGAIN just because they didn't consider every eventuality. My original legit key from years back is useless now. If anything, they stole from me.

Yeah, having to justify myself to Microsoft every time I get a new piece of hardware is part of the reason I am making a move with all software I can to Linux.

Unfortunately, many of my classes require me to use windows only software.. so I've had to continue using it more than I'd like.

[motivez]

Update!

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

VIA EMAIL:

Demand for Immediate Take-Down: Notice of Infringing Activity

URL: http://x.w3rd.org/FairUse4WM.zip
CASE #: 54773

15 September 2006

Dear Sir or Madam,

Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be
on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in
other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted works published by Microsoft.

1. Identification of copyrighted works:

Copyrighted work(s):
Windows Media Player 10
Windows Media Player 11

Copyright owner:
Microsoft Corporation

2. Copyright infringing material or activity found at the following location(s):
http://x.w3rd.org/FairUse4WM.zip

The above location is offering 'Cracks' or 'Product Keys', intended to circumvent
technical measures that control access to Microsoft's copyrighted works and that
protect Microsoft's copyrights in those works.

3. Statement of authority:

The information in this notice is accurate, and I hereby certify under penalty of
perjury that I am authorized to act on behalf of Microsoft, the owner of the
copyright(s) in the work(s) identified above. I have a good faith belief that none
of the materials or activities listed above have been authorized by Microsoft, its
agents, or the law.

We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take
expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above, and
thereby prevent the unauthorized distribution of these cracks or product keys via
your company's network.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please advise us regarding what
actions you take.

Yours sincerely,

James Young
Internet Investigator

on behalf of Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States of America

E-mail: Internet1@microsoft-antipiracy.com


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP Desktop 9.0.6 (Build 6060)

iQEVAwUBRQrOZV5WM1R7P/t6AQiSIgf8C0FQzMjjShTCw0i2RZNykznUKsLQVxMy
E68pJgOdBV4EHjSs1PaUZYeu5gmKDy/iSPIRUG9NzH5Sudw7XI8giiZumr0WsxDU
fWwEd68cVSNlxgHME0KkJVKzMYNZoQ6TCNWsqF1FJRYDp3hGvi dwXVwCS17WqeFS
NjTJahNVxGj/T5zLSLfQaVftwmcBRVCSn6ZFltP0CTPi1fMlq9b0ei5Bpzxyvt HZ
zFGYa+ekKv3OU/5SYSpkEhIMhWkS8dDagY5ch2IIFF8AdHyeq0hnYmVsXegG1Lj6
i5UMhrICH69qxCWHx2Shvd+pzbZC8BvjlClS/UGk6WTFQXU9Kjas/g==
=0B6j
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

I'm going to take down my .zip....................