Dev finds Windows Marketplace DRM severely lacking, easily circumventable

Microsoft's Windows Phones just left the chute a few days ago, and already it seems that ye old DRM is getting talked about -- and not in a good way. According to one Chainfire over at XDA-Developers, the so-called "copy protection" involved in keeping applications in place rather than strewn across a neighborhood of handsets is a pitiful joke, requiring just five minutes of tinkering to save the CAB files that the Marketplace app downloads to a separate folder. In other words, that relocated CAB file could be distributed to all of your friends, turning a single purchase into freeware for as many people as you know (or don't know, even). So, Marketplace devs -- does that make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, or what?

[Thanks, GreeKNastY]

[Silverfox2000 Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:41PM]

" NohOne

Don't worry, pretty soon it won't be an issue for WinMo because it won't be around any more.

[NohOne Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:49PM]

That's it, keep whoring yourself out to The Most Magnificient Jobs by blaming one company for someting while ignoring it when your favorite company does the same exact thing.

[Silverfox2000 Posted Oct 8th 2009 11:54PM]

@ NohOne

You're funny hehe

[richbumx Posted Oct 8th 2009 9:47PM]

on the upside.. it might sell more winmobile devices :) same reason as to why I have 2 xbox360s but no ps3s, because no working method to play backup ps3 games.

[toptekjon Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:14PM]

This is just stupid. Every piece of software on the planet is easily hackable, and easily downloaded for free by anyone that knows where to look.

I have an iphone and it's ridiculous how easy it is to get apps for free.

[WinMacWho Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:19PM]

I don't get it. Microsoft knew Windows Mobile has been facing some stiff competition and they launch the Marketplace like this? How utterly disappointing. They should have just waited to release it, I mean, what's the rush. 7 is coming out soon, and it could have given them more time to polish a few things.

[nitrous9200 Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:34PM]

I figured out how to do it as well, all you have to do is find the temporary folder that the CAB is downloaded to and then copy it over to your computer while it's still installing. You can then copy it back over to the phone and install it normally. Piece of cake. I am doing this to backup my apps because Microsoft sent me an email saying they couldn't charge my card when I can look at the history and see charges from MS - I'm expecting them to deny my account access to my apps so I'm saving them before they have the chance to take them away.

[xnifex Posted Oct 9th 2009 11:08AM]

so what folder do they download to? i think its stupid that they don't give you the cab up front, especially if you paid for it

[WmPenn Posted Oct 8th 2009 11:15PM]

DRM is a joke and a curse, pirates will always be one step ahead. DRM only makes the legitimate consumers life more difficult. It does nothing to stop the pirates. I don't care if it's Microsoft, or Apple, or Sony, or whoever, shame on them!

[dosguy Posted Oct 9th 2009 12:21AM]

Why does Engadget make low and lowest ranked comments unreadable?

[INNUENDO 64 Posted Oct 9th 2009 2:06AM]

i wonder the same thing. the lowest ranked comments are my favorite ones! i wish the low ranked comments stuck out in a different way. LIKE RAINBOW TEXT

[Simon Seize Posted Oct 9th 2009 12:34AM]

So would Engadget be happier if it had really strict DRM? Because, after all, that's the position you guys always take right?

Besides... if you read the posts and comments here nobody pirates software... it's all about "legitimate use".

/sarcasm

[WmPenn Posted Oct 9th 2009 3:01AM]

Legitimate use ya say? Arrrr! No nay ne'er! we be piratin' all ar booty matey! We just be feelin' sorry for all these scallywags who be squanderin' all thy doubloons and sufferin' DRM restrictions, unlike us crafty sea dogs!

[BogdanGC Posted Oct 9th 2009 3:22AM]

This is bad for WinMo developers. The fact that the software they created can be very easily copied from a device, where it was legally purchased, to other hundreds of devices for free is not exactly enticing for them.

i'm not a developer, so i dont have anything against this DRM security lacking, but it's possible that a lot of devs will go to other platforms (hopefully WebOS).

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 9th 2009 7:12AM]

And how is this different from the current situation? Apps in WinMo have no DRM and have to do copy protection by themselves (generated keys or something) ...

[Tsing Tao Posted Oct 9th 2009 11:37AM]

Jesus this comment system is a mess of frapping frothing moronig winbots with 20 accounts. I would be ashamed to be engadget.

[nickl Posted Oct 9th 2009 11:55AM]

all winmo .cabs that I've ever downloaded have required a registration to allow full functionality. I could pass the .cab to thousands of people. If I dont give them the registration code, its useless. Are we sure it isn't the same case here?

[mastassmasta Posted Oct 10th 2009 4:23PM]

I still think AVG is going to sue Microsoft over that puzzles logo.