DRM FAQ

What is DRM?

DRM stands for digital rights management. DRM is a technology used by content providers, such as online stores, to control how the digital music and video files you obtain from them are used and distributed. Online stores sell and rent songs and movies that have DRM applied to them.

What are the advantages of DRM?

DRM allows content providers to restrict the use of digital media, for instance they can control how many times a music file is played. This allows for new business models, such as rental and subscription services. In addition, there are music labels that require DRM applied to their music files in order to minimize illegal copying; without DRM, a certain music title may not be available for download.

What are the disadvantages of DRM?

DRM imposes severe restrictions to the end user that may not immediately obvious, so you should carefully decide whether you purchase music that is DRM protected. For instance, DRM is often applied in a way so that it ties your DRM protected music to only one certain computer, so you may not be able to copy and listen to your DRM protected music on a different computer. The music files may be further restricted so that they cannot be synced to a mobile device, played only a number of times, or played for a limited time only.

Another problem is that there are many different DRM protection implementations, such as Microsoft PlayForSure or Apple Fairplay. Since these implementations are incompatible to each other, DRM effectively restricts you to use only certain types of portable devices, certain media player software and even certain operating systems. For instance, an Apple iPod does not implement Microsoft PlaysForSure, which prevents you to sync DRM protected WMA files to your iPod, so you cannot use the music services of Napster, Rhapsody, or any other PlaysForSure store.

What can I do to avoid DRM?

If you do not wish to be bound by the restrictions of DRM, simply do not purchase any music, videos, or services that use DRM protection. When you purchase music, make sure you buy only 'MP3' or 'unprotected AAC' files. These files can be synced and played on virtually any type of portable devices. You can also purchase CDs and rip them to MP3 using Windows Media Player.

Is there any workaround to sync my DRM protected WMA files to my iPod?

No. The DRM protection cannot be legally circumvented or removed.

I have ripped my own CDs, but I do not have sync rights. Why can’t I sync my own files to my iPod?

When you rip CDs using Windows Media Player, you can enable a Copy Protect Music option, which effectively enables DRM on your personal music. Do not enable this option when you rip your CDs to WMA, or simply use MP3. Details can be found in the Windows Media Player help files.

When I view the properties of my WMA music files it says I have unlimited sync rights. Why can’t I sync these files to my iPod?

The sync right grants you permission to sync DRM protected WMA files to your portable device. However, an Apple iPod cannot play protected WMA files. In order to play the protected WMA files on an iPod, they would have to be converted to (unprotected) MP3 or AAC, but this right you do not have, hence you cannot sync protected WMA files to your iPod.

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