Axehole

FairUse4WM, a so-called DRM-stripper, is creating headaches for Microsoft, because the free program lets users strip the rights management software from music downloads in Microsoft’s Windows Media DRM (digital rights management) 10 and 11.

The formats are used by many online music services to enforce limits on the use and distribution of downloaded music.

FairUse4WM was originally posted to a forum devoted to using software to maintain traditional fair-use rights.

According to the poster, viodentia, “This program is ONLY designed and intended to enable fair-use rights to PURCHASED media.”

Many have reported success removing Microsoft’s DRM using FairUse4WM.

Microsoft is moving quickly to respond to FairUse4WM, which threatens to undermine Microsoft-based online music service offerings.

Engadget has published a letter from Microsoft’s Windows Digital Media Division that documents Microsoft’s initial response.

“Microsoft has Microsoft released an update to the individualized blackbox component (IBX) designed to ensure that client applications using the Windows Media Format SDK version 9.5 who individualize to this latest version are robust against a new circumvention tool.”

Microsoft is likely to leapfrog FairUse4WM by updating vendor’s tools for encrypting audio files and through Windows system updates.