Windows Media Player DRM: The Plot Thickens

Looks like you can’t just uncheck the Windows Media Rights Management box after all (see the gif on my “more” page — i’m still dinking around with images in Movable Type)
I just happened to have to reinstall Windows Media Player 7.1 over the weekend (due to my Real One player expiring on me for no apparent reason…More on that experience later in perhaps far too much detail…)
So I took a gander at the EULA while I was installing WMP 7.1 and took a screen grab of the window that wouldn’t let me uncheck the Windows Media Rights Management box (and also states very clearly in writing that Rights Management is a requirement, not an option).
Also, this paragraph of the EULA seems pretty darned relevant. How the heck did “security” get grouped in with “digital rights management” and my having to agree to allow Microsoft to install DRM updates on my computer that might “disable my ability to…use other software on my computer”??:

* Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management (“Secure Content”), Microsoft may provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update.


wmpdrm.gif
Full text of Supplemental Eula:
SUPPLEMENTAL END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE (“Supplemental EULA”)
IMPORTANT: READ CAREFULLY – These Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) operating system components, including any “online” or electronic documentation (“OS Components”) are subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement under which you have licensed the applicable Microsoft operating system product described below (each an “End User License Agreement” or “EULA”) and the terms and conditions of this Supplemental EULA. BY INSTALLING, COPYING OR OTHERWISE USING THE OS COMPONENTS, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE APPLICABLE OPERATING SYSTEM PRODUCT EULA AND THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY OR USE THE OS COMPONENTS.
NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALIDLY LICENSED COPY OF ANY VERSION OR EDITION OF MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98, MICROSOFT WINDOWS MILLENUM EDITION, MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000 OPERATING SYSTEM OR ANY MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEM THAT IS A SUCCESSOR TO ANY OF THOSE OPERATING SYSTEMS (EACH AN “OS PRODUCT”), YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO INSTALL, COPY OR OTHERWISE USE THE OS COMPONENTS AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA.
Capitalized terms used in this Supplemental EULA and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the applicable OS Product EULA.
General. The OS Components are provided to you by Microsoft to update, supplement, or replace existing functionality of the applicable OS Product. Microsoft grants you a license to use the OS Components under the terms and conditions of the EULA for the applicable OS Product (which are hereby incorporated by reference, except as set forth below) and the terms and conditions set forth in this Supplemental EULA, provided that you comply with all such terms and conditions. To the extent that any terms in this Supplemental EULA conflict with terms in the applicable OS Product EULA, the terms of this Supplemental EULA control solely with respect to the OS Components.
Additional Rights and Limitations.
* Reproduction. If you have multiple validly licensed copies of the applicable OS Product, you may reproduce, install and use one copy of the OS Components as part of such OS Product on all of your computers running validly licensed copies of the applicable OS Product provided that you use such additional copies of the OS Components in accordance with the terms and conditions above. For each validly licensed copy of the applicable OS Product, you also may reproduce one additional copy of the OS Components solely for archival purposes or reinstallation of the OS Components on the same computer as the OS Components were previously installed. Microsoft retains all right, title and interest in and to the OS Components. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by Microsoft.
* Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management (“Secure Content”), Microsoft may provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update.
IF THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT WAS LICENSED TO YOU BY MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES, THE LIMITED WARRANTY (IF ANY) INCLUDED IN THE OS PRODUCT EULA APPLIES TO THE OS COMPONENTS PROVIDED THE OS COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY YOU WITHIN THE TERM OF THE LIMITED WARRANTY IN THE OS PRODUCT EULA. HOWEVER, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA DOES NOT EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD FOR WHICH THE LIMITED WARRANTY IS PROVIDED.
IF THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT WAS LICENSED TO YOU BY AN ENTITY OTHER THAN MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES, MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE OS COMPONENTS AS FOLLOWS:
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS PROVIDE TO YOU THE OS COMPONENTS, AND ANY (IF ANY) SUPPORT SERVICES RELATED TO THE OS COMPONENTS (“SUPPORT SERVICES”) AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS; AND MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO THE OS COMPONENTS AND SUPPORT SERVICES ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY (IF ANY) WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF OR RELATED TO: MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, LACK OF VIRUSES, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF RESPONSES, RESULTS, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT AND LACK OF NEGLIGENCE. ALSO THERE IS NO WARRANTY, DUTY OR CONDITION OF TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, QUIET POSSESSION, CORRESPONDENCE TO DESCRIPTION OR NONINFRINGEMENT. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE OS COMPONENTS AND ANY SUPPORT SERVICES REMAINS WITH YOU.
EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL AND CERTAIN OTHER DAMAGES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR: LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF CONFIDENTIAL OR OTHER INFORMATION, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, PERSONAL INJURY, LOSS OF PRIVACY, FAILURE TO MEET ANY DUTY (INCLUDING OF GOOD FAITH OR OF REASONABLE CARE), NEGLIGENCE, AND ANY OTHER PECUNIARY OR OTHER LOSS WHATSOEVER) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE OS COMPONENTS OR THE SUPPORT SERVICES, OR THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, OR OTHERWISE UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA, EVEN IF MICROSOFT OR ANY SUPPLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND REMEDIES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY DAMAGES THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL DAMAGES REFERENCED ABOVE AND ALL DIRECT OR GENERAL DAMAGES), THE ENTIRE LIABILITY OF MICROSOFT AND ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS UNDER ANY PROVISION OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ALL OF THE FOREGOING SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU FOR THE OS COMPONENTS OR U.S.$5.00. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS, EXCLUSIONS AND DISCLAIMERS SHALL APPLY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
Si vous avez acquis votre produit Microsoft au CANADA, le texte suivant vous concerne :
SI LE PRODUIT OS APPLICABLE VOUS A

18 thoughts on “Windows Media Player DRM: The Plot Thickens

  1. paul

    There are plenty more media players out there that aren’t trying to control when, how, where, why and what you choose tolisten to/watch. Trying searching for ‘freeware wma’ using google for instance.

  2. Zach

    Does the DRM apply to Mp3 files or only to the WMA Format. Aka could windows media player download updates into XP that would prevent me from playing Mp3s?

  3. pissoff

    yes it can I happened to download non pirated mp3
    and license restrictions are preventing me from playing it.
    the bad news is i can’t get rid of windows media player 8

  4. pissoff

    yes it can I happened to download non pirated mp3
    and license restrictions are preventing me from playing it.
    the bad news is i can’t get rid of windows media player 8

  5. Zach

    If you shut off automatic updating will this “update” still install?. Also if that update still installs, will I still be able to play Mp3’s with Winamp and burn Mp3’s to CD’s in WMP?

  6. TeledyN

    Puretracks

    Puretracks is a new Canadian-based service that steps in to fill the void left because the iTunes and their ilk were wary of our border. Like the others, Puretracks lets you download…

  7. TeledyN

    Puretracks

    Puretracks is a new Canadian-based service that steps in to fill the void left because the iTunes and their ilk were wary of our border. Like the others, Puretracks lets you download…

  8. code one

    The reason you can’t uninstall WMP is because in the registry for that program is a key that even says nouninstall, Microsfot, programmed it that way, to keep limitations on average users, all you need to do is delete or edit that key to yes and walla no more media player and its dictator manner!
    Code One

  9. code one

    The reason you can’t uninstall WMP is because in the registry for that program is a key that even says nouninstall, Microsfot, programmed it that way, to keep limitations on average users, all you need to do is delete or edit that key to yes and walla no more media player and its dictator manner!
    Code One

  10. code one

    The reason you can’t uninstall WMP is because in the registry for that program is a key that even says nouninstall, Microsfot, programmed it that way, to keep limitations on average users, all you need to do is delete or edit that key to yes and walla no more media player and its dictator manner!
    Code One

  11. Digman

    Acctually, I read up on this, it looks like WMA is a core peice of the Microsoft OS (just like IE and DirectX) removing it is like taking a chunk out of the OS. It’s definitly NOT something you wan’t to do.

  12. crc

    should take a look at this
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\Multimedia\Components\Installed\DRM_DRM
    it’s in wmp 7.1
    i think all the DRM game is here.someone should make a patch

  13. Greg

    You guys are sooooo full of crap and lies. You completely lie and misrepresent President George Bush. Every point you make is false, mixed with a tiny bit of truth mixed in. I can disprove every lie you have told. Is anything in your pathetic lives truthful? Do you really think the government should do everything for everybody. That is sick and one day you will wake up – or maybe not, because that is how mental illness is. It amazes me how deluded people can become – even so many in a group.
    Greg

  14. FeelingCheated

    Politics and consumer rights aside, all I want is to use legally-downloaded audio files in my slideshows and home movies; but everything I download from sources like the new Napster are copy protected, so I can’t even use them in a slideshow produced on my CPU and for use only in my house. If anyone knows of a way around this, tell me!

  15. Gizmo

    I just want to say one thing.
    After 15yrs in the warez scene and seeing hacks/cracks/patches/replacement.exes/everything and anything you can do to ‘get it going’
    NOTHING and I mean NOTHING can’t be crack.
    Everything that can be done can be undone…
    DRM –> youre ass is mine!!!!!!!!!!!!
    (sooner or later)

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