"Digital Rights Restriction" Error Message When You Attempt to Convert Licensed Audio Files

When you attempt to convert licensed audio files in Microsoft Plus! MP3 Audio Converter, you may experience the following behaviors:

• The conversion is unsuccessful if you convert files by using a bit rate that is lower than the bit rate of the original files.
  
  When you click Error Details, you receive the following error message in the Details section:
  The file cannot be converted because of a digital rights restriction. You must have a license from the content provider to copy the file.
  - or -
• The conversion completes and appears to be successful if you convert files by using a bit rate that is the same or higher than the bit rate of the original files.

This behavior occurs if all of the following conditions are true:

• You attempt to convert licensed audio files.
  
  -and-
• You specify a bit rate that is different from that of the original files.
  
  -and-
• You place the converted files in a folder location that is different from that of the original files.

By design, Plus! MP3 Audio Converter does not convert licensed audio files. When you specify a bit rate that is lower than that of the original files, Plus! MP3 Audio Converter behaves as expected and does not convert the files.

When you specify a bit rate that is the same or higher than that of the original files, Plus! MP3 Audio Converter appears to convert the file to the new bit rate. However, in reality, the converter merely copies the licensed files to the new folder location. This operation does not affect the audio quality or the Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection of the file.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

You cannot use Plus! MP3 Audio Converter to convert audio files that are licensed with DRM restrictions. This includes tracks that you copy from a CD-ROM in Microsoft Windows Media Player after you select the Protect content option.

For more information about licensed files, click Help Topics on the Windows Media Player Help menu, click the Contents tab, expand Understanding digital media concepts, and then click Understanding licensed files.

For more information about Plus! for Windows XP, browse to the following Microsoft Web site: