Windows Media DRM 10 cracked?

Uh oh, Microsoft. Okay, we can't vouch for the validity of this right now, but word has it that a particular Japanese site has discovered a method to break Microsoft's Windows Media DRM 10 on WMV files (which is Windows Media Video, if you haven't been paying attention).  No word on whether the two apps that aim to do it (DrmDbg and DRM2WMV) can be retooled for decrypting DRM'd audio files (WMA), and it looks like you need to have a license for the content you want to crack in the first place—though obviously once the DRM is stripped away, you should be generally able to do whatever you want with the file (share it online, transfer it to a personal video player, etc.).

[Via Chris Lanier]

[arkowi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Will these play on Mac Media Player in either the locked or unlocked flavor?

[ed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

hm, this could be interesting, i actually was wondering about if there were any tools of this sort the other day

[Dave Nadig @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Not directly I don't think, but once its a WMA file you can transcode it easily enough.

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

would these be able to crack Micorsoft's Media Center protected *.dvr-ms files?

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Would anyone know the URLs of where these 2 apps can be located?

[DeepDarkSky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I read that and though WMD-RM? Weapons of Mass Destruction? Weapons of Mass Digital Rights Management? Doesn't sound too good to me.

[Quark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

yea the link just goes to a gobbleguk page, anybody have a real link

[shidoshi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I believe that "gobbleguk" is called Japanese.

[Quark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

It just looks like question marks and asterisks on my browser, that's all I meant.

Now Chinese, that's gobbleguk

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I found that Japenese page too, but it didn't seem to have a link where you can download the application. Anyone have any luck?

[Matthew Deutsch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I've been waiting for something like this! (my cowon iaudio m3 does not play protected wma's)

[bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

that's why people don't buy macs. [YES!]

they need to pay..
and pay
and pay.....

[MD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"looks like you need to have a license for the content you want to crack in the first place"

Then it hasn't really been "cracked." This looks just like Hymn for iTunes -- it simply strips the DRM from the files *provided* you're the holder of the license for those files.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

HP called, they want their boring logo back..

BTW. Just because SOME MS software sucks on the Mac (conflict of interests) doesn't mean ALL their software sucks on the Mac

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

You can already strip the DRM from Windows Media files if you have a valid license, just buy a great piece of software called Total Recorder, it acts as a digital sound card and will record what is played through it as MP3 etc, so music YOU HAVE BOUGHT YOU can use IN YOUR mp3 compatible car stereo, YOUR IPod etc

DRM Sux

Me out!

[JZ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

#14, it's a start - and it 'cracking' this DRM to allow the license holder to do what he/she wants to do with the video/audio they bought is a big step. this is great news.

[MIKE @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Hey, Might as well do it. Nothing wrong with trying. Till the othe softwares are released.

[Andrew Griffiths @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Oh forgot to mention, total recorder will also control winamp & win media player, so it will do one track properly without u having to sit there and pick the right point to start and finish tracks.

And no I don't work for Total recorder, I just really hate DRM.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Would anyone know the URLs of where these 2 apps can be located?

[Pixl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I've been using Advanced WMA Workshop 2.0 to strip the DRM.. I simply convert the WMA to WMA. Oddly enough if you select the files individually on the top window and try to convert it tells you they are DRM'd.. But if you select a group of them and add to "batch queue" and then convert to WMA, I choose the same settings as the original, it will resave the file without DRM.. I havn't noticed a difference in sound quality OR size. And these are with files that I didn't have the license installed for (reformatted and lost it, why I hate DRM)

[Pixl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I've been using Advanced WMA Workshop 2.0 to strip the DRM.. I simply convert the WMA to WMA. Oddly enough if you select the files individually on the top window and try to convert it tells you they are DRM'd.. But if you select a group of them and add to "batch queue" and then convert to WMA, I choose the same settings as the original, it will resave the file without DRM.. I havn't noticed a difference in sound quality OR size. And these are with files that I didn't have the license installed for (reformatted and lost it, why I hate DRM)

[MIKE @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

FOR THE MEANWHILE, GET A GMAIL ACCOUNT.

http://forums.windrivers.com/showthread.php?p=579024#post579024

[Kait666 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Still.....what we can do with wmv DRM???

[MIKE @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Look what I have found. It says the storys is false.

http://www.drmwatch.com/drmtech/article.php/3467991

[GSP @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Pixl, I tried this technique with the current version of Advanced WMA Workshop 2.09.9 and it refuses to convert DRM protected WMA files in the manner you describe. Were you mistaken about whether the files were DRM protected? or did you have an older version of the software?

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Update For DRM-Enabled Media Players (KB891122) Wonder Why? ;-)
http://msmvps.com/chrisl/archive/2005/02/15/36006.aspx

[jcbatlga @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I bought WMV videos, and they played great, now they don't !!! What a pain, it's probably the DRM? If you own WMV does anyone know how to remove the protection?

[saadkarim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

hey how can we break drm wmv ? is there any crack available ....... asking for payments that sucks.

[Dusty @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Good, I just want to be able to play my LEGAL music in winamp. Golly Microsoft, how hard would that be to let us use something other than your product.

[Walker @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Good news

Now that i can purchase my mp3s legally i have been doing so. Thanks to being able to get rid of annoying drm afterwards so i can play on my choice of mp3 player.

I choose to do the same with movies / tv eps offered online and they will be eventually.

wish the riaa and other orgs like them would stop shooting themselves in the foot and pissing off us the consumer.

[BlackJack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I have a DRM2WMV and DRMDBG.
but,I don't know how to use of this software.
I send software to the person who makes clear about the way of using software.
Contact this place.

[e-mail]

I request a title in "Give me DRM2WMV".
Then, tell how to use of this software to me.

[DANIEL.G (IRL) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I have found that if you download a drm wmv you need a licence but if you download that file with download Accelerator say 98% or 99% then cancel the download then go to the download Accelerator folder in the temp folder find the file you were downloading then open it with media player of your choice its not 100% but it worked 7/10.
Cheers. Daniel.G (IRL)

[DANIEL.G (IRL) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I have found that if you download a drm wmv you need a licence but if you download that file with download Accelerator say 98% or 99% then cancel the download then go to the download Accelerator folder in the temp folder find the file you were downloading then open it with media player of your choice its not 100% but it worked 7/10.
Cheers. Daniel.G (IRL)

[enneweb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I'm trying to do it, have both tools, but meanwhile... isn't there any way to do it without the license? In many webs you have to pay before, not even trial/temporal license. In many other situations, the license time is over, and so no way to do it. Well, I'll post my progress on my site, as well as a manual if I can make it work.

[Darren @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Where do you get the download?

[Darren @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Where do you get the download?

[marcos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

http://forum.doom9.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3757

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

To crack, break, or strip copy protection means to have a bit-for-bit copy without the protection. Using Total Recorder (or anything like it) is not cracking, breaking, or striping the DRM. You don't have a bit-for-bit copy.

[kimorgan1211 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

You can also "strip" the DRM encryption from WMA files by simply buring them to an audio CD and ripping it back, provided you do not have your burn settings set to "Copy Protect" your files...would this not work for WMV as well?