Defunct MSN Music has a DRM controversy on its hands

Editors Note: An interview with Microsoft executive Rob Bennett, who defended the company's decision to shut down DRM-licensing servers for MSN Music, can be found here.

Microsoft handed plenty of ammunition to the anti-DRM crowd on Tuesday by announcing it will no longer furnish authorization keys for songs purchased from the defunct MSN Music service.

For former customers of MSN Music--the service Microsoft operated before closing it in late 2006 and opening Zune Marketplace--August 31 will be the last day that they can move music to different computers. After that, Microsoft will no longer "support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased on MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers," the company said in an e-mail to former MSN Music customers.

It's important to note that the music won't disappear after the deadline. Songs will continue to play on authorized computers. What the announcement means is that former MSN Music customers will risk losing their music libraries if they try to transfer songs to unauthorized computers or swap operating systems after Aug. 31.

There are a couple of ways to safeguard the music but they aren't pretty. Before the deadline, those affected can move songs to computers they plan to own for a while (the songs can be authorized to play on five different PCs). Another alternative is to burn songs to CDs and rerip. This means the loss of sound quality but offers more peace of mind.

Bloggers pounced on the news, writing that the situation illustrated just how anti-consumer that digital rights management is. The point most of them made: whatever hardware the songs are stored on will malfunction eventually, and the owner's music (in a high quality form at least) will be gone forever.

"Ultimately, this serves as a reminder of what DRM really is," wrote Justin Mann at TechSpot.com. It's a "way for companies to control your use of their content. Rather than purchasing, you are renting."

Microsoft said in the e-mail that it is shutting down the servers that operated the music's DRM but didn't specify why. A call to a Microsoft representative was not returned Tuesday night.

This is only the latest sign that DRM is apparently on its way out. The music industry appears to be drifting away from copy-protection schemes and has enabled several retailers, including Amazon.com, to sell DRM-free music files.

MSN Music was a failed effort by Microsoft to compete against Apple's iTunes. In November 2006, two years after opening it's doors, the service stopped selling downloads. Microsoft began redirecting customers to Zune's Marketplace music store or RealNetworks' Rhapsody subscription service.

[Wookiee-1138]

The thermal paste is gonna hit the hard drive spindle...

And they wonder why formally law-abiding users are resorting to bit torrenting?

[Imalittleteapot]

Oh screw that.

Could someone please explain to me why I'm not supposed to be pirating my music again? DRM protected CDs, DRM protected music, and now this? <br /><br />I try to boycott both CDs, digital downloads, and DVDs. Sometimes I can't help myself on the DVDs, but at least I pay for it. I try to stick to TV, Internet, and books.<br /><br />However, if I did want music I will definitely make sure I download it illegally from now on. At least that way I know what I pay for won't expire on me. They can sue me I guess. They can sue me for $220,000. They can sue me for $500,000,000,000. It doesn't matter. I'm not good for either one. They might get $10 out of me. I guess they could put me in jail. I'd be like an Internet martyr maybe.<br /><br />Seriously, if this is what DRM has to offer us then it needs to be made illegal. They're locking people out of things that is legally theirs.<br /><br />You know what DRM I'd like to see expire. The WGA on Windows Vista so everyone's comp will tell them Vista isn't a genuine copy lol. It'll probably happen anyway. Some hacker will probably write a worm that trips the WGA on the comp it infects. Don't support viruses, but at least MS would learn how it feels.

[paul.saulnier]

If you were dumb enough to buy from MSN Music...

Then you shouldn't be surprised about this. At least iTunes provides compatibility with the iPods that most digital music listeners are using anyway. It's popularity also means an easier DRM-cracking path for those willing to look for it, albeit unsupported by Apple.

[ckought]

It seems they'd at least offer options

Most magazines will transfer your subscription to another magazine if they go out of business. Why can't MS just transfer the MSN Music customers to Zune (or iTunes :-P )?<br /><br />They could also offer to deactivate the DRM on the songs that customers currently own so that the customer isn't left flapping in the wind.<br /><br />I'd be royally pissed if I'd spent big $$$ buying music legally and then having it taken away from me.<br /><br />Over the last 5 years, I've stopped buying music and pretty much stopped even listening to it. When I occasionally listen to the radio while driving, there hasn't been any songs on that I'd be willing to pay a dollar for (even DRM free) -- they're not even worth the bandwidth to download them illegally.

[paul.saulnier]

Hmm

I think you need to find a better radio station.

[sadchild]

started my mp3 collection in 1999, still work great on every pc since!

forte agent 2.0 + airnews usenet account for $10/month = 60 GB mp3 collection amassed over 8 years that works on all devices, all OS'es, all new computers, forever.

[iBuzz]

Opportunity for Apple

If Apple wanted to create some good will, they should offer a <br />deal where if you buy an iPod or iPhone, they'll swap all your <br />MSN songs for iTunes songs.

[badasscat]

Buy CD's and Rip

Just goes to show that there's still no better option than buying a physical CD and ripping it to Mp3 or your format of choice. No matter what happens, you still have a pristine, *full quality* archive copy on disc. And if you're smart, you never have to re-rip anyway. Despite all efforts to the contrary, most CD's still contain no DRM at all (and those that do are trivial to defeat).<br /><br />I continue to build my CD collection, and my approximately 10,000 mp3's that I've ripped from them will work on any computer and device I choose.

[iBuzz]

DRM is the 8-track tape of this generation

I've been saying this for years... At some point ALL DRM content <br />will fail to play... even Apple's.<br /><br />10, 15, or maybe as long as 20 years from now, all of those 128 <br />kbps songs purchased from the Apple store (and others) are <br />going to be considered old technology that no one uses <br />anymore. And at some point, the plugs will be pulled on all the <br />servers that issue the DRM licenses that allow your songs and <br />videos to be unlocked and played. In the lomg run, it won't be <br />worth the cost for companies to continue to keep those servers <br />up and running. I was thinking this might start to happen a <br />decade from now. I never thought it would be so soon!<br /><br />Just as kids today ask "what's an 8-track", kids of tomorrow will <br />ask "what's DRM?"

[groovewrangler]

Yeah... but I can still play my 8-tracks!

[JCPayne]

HA--- I dare you all to buy a Zune from Microsoft.

You'll go through that all over again...

[hollasch]

Zune?

Why would my Zune suddenly stop playing DRM-free MP3's and WMV's? Both my kids' Zunes are loaded with DRM-free music (unlike iTunes). To be fair, though, iPods can be free of iTunes and other DRM merchants as well.

[streamOG]

Apple will do the same thing with iTunes

when they can no longer survive on the $.02 per track they make/lose depending on who you talk to.<br /><br />This is not news to MSN MUsic customers. They were told this was coming a year ago.<br /><br />MSN MUsic has not taken on new customers in a year.<br /><br />Good story to drive page views though.

[streamOG]

Time to start the retractions!!<br /><br /> <br /><br />On April 22, Microsoft notified you that as of August 31st, 2008, we would be changing the level of support for music purchased from MSN Music, and while your existing purchased music would continue to play, you would no longer be able to authorize new PCs and devices to play that music. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />After careful consideration, Microsoft has decided to continue to support the authorization of new computers and devices and delivery of new license keys for MSN Music customers through at least the end of 2011, after which we will evaluate how much this functionality is still being used and what steps should be taken next to support our customers. This means you will continue to be able to listen to your purchased music and transfer your music to new PCs and devices beyond the previously announced August 31, 2008 date.<br /><br />Microsoft continues to recommend that you back up your music on CD or hard drive along with other important data.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />MSN Music team