Microsoft To Issue Fix For DRM Stripper App

thumbnail Microsoft To Issue Fix For DRM Stripper App

Microsoft is preparing a fix for a program that strips the digital-rights-management protections attached to its Windows Media file format, representatives said Monday night. Armed with the program, users could theoretically download an unlimited amount of music via MTV’s Urge music service, as well as other sites that offer music for download. The “FairUse4WM” program […]

Written By: Mark Hachman
Aug 30, 2006
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More


Microsoft is preparing a fix for a program that strips the digital-rights-management protections attached to its Windows Media file format, representatives said Monday night.


Armed with the program, users could theoretically download an unlimited amount of music via MTV’s Urge music service, as well as other sites that offer music for download.

The “FairUse4WM” program was released earlier this month, and advertised as a tool to remove the rights restrictions from files encoded with Windows Media Player 10 or 11. The program’s creator, “viodentia,” published the orignal file to a message board on August 19, and the file has been quickly mirrored around the Web.

FairUse4WM was designed, according to viodentia, as a means to encourage fair use, such as unlocking purchased music. In its current state, however, the tool can be used to unlock music purchased through subscription services such MTV’s Urge music service, which uses Microsoft’s Windows Media Digital Rights Management software.

While the software does require an individualized DRM file keyed to the user’s PC, tests conducted by PC Magazine and ExtremeTech analysts concluded that the software does strip the rights restrictions from the file and allow them to be played.

Although FairUse4WM has attracted attention across the Internet, the program provides a GUI front end to drmdbg.exe, a program allegedly authored by a cracker named “lark” in January 2005. Since then, the program has been used to crack Windows Media 10-encoded software. The new version extends the capabilities to Windows Media 11, the protection used by MTV’s Urge music service.

Read the full story on PCMag.com: Microsoft To Issue Fix For DRM Stripper App

Recommended for you...

Leadership Roundup: July Adjustments to Executive Benches

July saw major leadership shakeups across the channel, with key C-suite hires at Pipefy, Coro, Snowflake, Chainguard, and more.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
July Roundup: AI, Cyber Key to Several M&A Developments

July’s M&A wave spotlighted AI security, with major players like Palo Alto Networks, Darktrace, and TD SYNNEX leading transformative deals.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
Lemongrass Debuts Tool to Streamline SAP Clean Core Work

Lemongrass debuts Clean Core AI Accelerator to help SAP users cut complexity, reduce technical debt, and prepare ERP systems for cloud and AI upgrades.

Franklin Okeke
Jul 31, 2025
Trend Micro and Google Cloud Double Down on AI Security

The expanded alliance emphasizes AI-driven defenses, sovereign cloud capabilities, and new anti-scam protections for businesses worldwide.

Allison Francis
Jul 30, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.