About Digital Rights Management (DRM) and protected content in Zune

This article describes Digital Rights Management (DRM), how it applies to Zune, and content usage rights for Zune Marketplace content.

What is DRM?

DRM represents Digital Rights Management. DRM technology is used by content providers, such as online stores, to control how digital music and video files are used and distributed. Online stores sell and rent DRM-protected music and videos that have media usage rights to enable specific use of the content. The Zune Music + Video software, Zune devices, and Zune Marketplace support and use Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 (DRM 10).

What is a protected song or a protected video?

A protected song or a protected video is a file that uses DRM protection. To play the protected song or video, you must have the media usage rights for it.

Does Zune play all protected files?

No. The Zune software and devices only play protected music files from Zune Marketplace.


What are media usage rights?

Media usage rights, also known as licenses, are permissions to use a protected song or a protected video in a particular way. Content providers can specify in the media usage rights how you can use the protected content that you obtain from them. For example, Zune Marketplace can grant the following media usage rights for content:

• Play right:
  The right to play content on a computer
• Burn right:
  The right to burn content to a CD or to a DVD
• Sync right:
  The right to sync content to your Zune device
• Send right:
  The right to send the content to another Zune device

Examples of DRM-protected content in the Zune Marketplace

• Music in .WMA format
• Zune Music Pass content
• Music videos
• TV video

Examples of DRM-free content in the Zune Marketplace

• Music in .MP3 format
• Music and video podcasts

What is a license?

A license is another name for media usage rights. By default, DRM content that is purchased from the Zune Marketplace is allocated five computer licenses and unlimited device syncs. In some cases, additional licenses may be available if you use all the five default computer licenses. To have additional licenses issued for content, you must contact Zune Support. A license is automatically consumed in the following scenarios:

• The content is downloaded and played on a computer for the first time.
• The operating system is reinstalled on a computer.
• Significant hardware changes are made to the existing computer.
• Your DRM component is reset.

Are media usage rights stored in the music or video file?

No. Media usage rights are stored on the computer separately from your music or video files.

How does the Zune software use media usage rights?

When you try to use a protected song or a protected video, the Zune software checks whether you have valid media usage rights for that file. If the media usage rights let you perform the action, Zune performs that action for you.

If Zune does not find valid media usage rights for the file, or if the rights do not let you to perform the action, Zune does not perform the action. Typically, you receive an error message that states why the action is not performed. You can also check the properties of the file in the Zune software to view the DRM rights that the content has.

Content usage rights for Zune Marketplace content

Usage rules for content that you purchase

• By default, DRM-protected content that is purchased from the Zune Marketplace is allocated five computer licenses per subscriber, and unlimited device syncs. In some cases, additional licenses may be available if you use all five default licenses. To obtain additional licenses for content, contact Zune technical support.
  
  A license will automatically be consumed in the following scenarios:
  • The content is downloaded and played on a computer for the first time.
  • Significant hardware changes are made to the existing computer.
  • The Windows Media DRM components are reset.
• You are authorized to burn (copy) DRM-protected purchased music and playlists that contain DRM-protected purchased content to a CD, or to a DVD for personal, non-commercial use only. There is no limit to the number of times that you can burn a single song. However, you are authorized to burn the same playlist a maximum of seven times only. You cannot burn music videos or TV video to a CD or to a DVD.
  
  Note The MP3 format does not include DRM and does not include these restrictions.
• TV videos and music videos do not include send rights between devices, nor can they be streamed from a device to an Xbox 360 console.

Usage rules for content that you obtain by using a Zune Music Pass subscription

• With a Zune Music Pass, you can stream or download content by using your subscription on up to three authorized computers.
• You can sync your library together with up to three Zune devices per your Zune Music Pass subscription.
• You must sign in to the Zune Marketplace a minimum of one time every 30 days to update the digital licenses that are associated with each piece of subscription content.
• If you transferred subscription content to a Zune device, you must connect the device to an authorized computer and sign in to the Zune Marketplace to update the device a minimum of one time every 30 days.
• TV videos and music videos are not available for download by using a Zune Music Pass.
• You can play subscription content only as long as you have a Zune Music Pass subscription. If you end your subscription, you cannot play any Zune Music Pass subscription content that you previously downloaded.
• You cannot burn subscription content or playlists that contain subscription content to a CD. However, you can purchase content from the Zune Marketplace separately.
  • MP3s are not available for download by using a Zune Music Pass.
  Note Purchased content does not expire when your subscription ends.

To learn more about terms of service, visit the following website: Xbox LIVE Terms of Use (includes Zune terms also).

For more information about the topics that are discussed in this article, press F1 on the keyboard when the Zune software is running to view the Zune Help file.