Have some questions about media usage rights (or licenses) for songs and videos and Zune? Here you'll find some common questions—and the answers—about media usage rights and digital rights management (DRM).
What is DRM?
DRM stands for digital rights management. DRM-protected songs and videos have media usage rights that limit what you can do with the songs and videos.
What is a protected song or protected video?
A protected song or video has DRM applied to it. To use the protected song or video, you also must have the media usage rights that are downloaded along with it.
Does Zune play all protected files?
No. Zune only plays protected songs from Zune Marketplace.
What are media usage rights?
Media usage rights define how you can use a protected song or video.
For example, Zune Marketplace may give you media usage rights for a song that control whether you can play it on your computer (a play right), sync it to your Zune (a sync right), or burn it to a CD (a burn right).
Each right in the license can specify the number of times it can be used. For example, a license could limit what you can do with a song like this:
What is a license?
License is another name for media usage rights.
Are media usage rights stored in the media file?
No. Media usage rights are stored on your computer separately from songs or videos.
How do media usage rights work in the Zune software?
When you try to do something with a protected song or video, the Zune software checks the media usage rights for that song or video.
If the media usage rights for that song allow what you want to do (for example, sync a song to your device), the Zune software does it.
But if the media usage rights aren't valid or don't allow what you want to do, you'll either get an error message or see an error button or an information button beside the protected song or video. Click the button to see more information.
How do I download media usage rights for protected songs and videos?
In most cases, the Zune software automatically downloads media usage rights that you need.
However, sometimes the Zune software can't download the media usage rights. In these cases, just follow the instructions on the screen.
If you are directed to Zune Marketplace, you might need to update your billing information or buy additional usage rights.
If your computer is missing the media usage rights for songs that you got from Zune Marketplace, you can get them again.
How often are media usage rights updated?
Zune Marketplace updates its media usage rights regularly. To keep your media usage rights current, sign in to the Marketplace at least once every two weeks. Then be sure to sync if you have protected songs on your Zune.
If your media usage rights expire, you won't be able to use the protected songs until you refresh the media usage rights from the Marketplace.
How can I tell if a song or video is protected?
You can see whether a song or video is protected by doing the following:
"Yes" appears in the Protected column beside each song or video that is protected. To sort by the value in the Protected column, click the column header.
An information button appears beside any protected songs that were downloaded as part of a Zune Pass music subscription. If you want to burn these songs to a CD, you have to buy them first.
What's the difference between purchased and subscription media?
Purchased media is songs or videos that you buy from Zune Marketplace for a one-time fee. Purchased media comes with a permanent license.
Subscription media is songs that you download using the Zune Pass, typically for a monthly fee. Licenses for subscription media must be refreshed every two weeks or so. This is done automatically by the Zune software when you sign in to Zune Marketplace.
Can I remove DRM from a song or video?
No. Once applied to a song or video, DRM can't be removed from it.
Can I use personal copy protection in the Zune software?
No. If you rip a CD with personal copy protection turned on (like you can in Windows Media Player), you won't be able to add the songs to your Zune music collection.
How do I back up media usage rights?
You can't back up rights. You can easily redownload protected songs and videos from Zune Marketplace.
How do I restore missing media usage rights?
If you get an error message that says you're missing the media usage rights for a song that you bought or downloaded from Zune Marketplace and you had the rights before, you can restore them.
Restore media usage rights
How do I move protected songs to a new computer?
If you start using a new computer, don't try to move your protected songs and videos manually. The media usage rights won't move with them. Instead, get new copies of your protected songs and videos from Zune Marketplace.
Download new copies of protected songs or videos
Note that you can download songs and videos that you buy up to four times. Beyond that, you'll need to contact Zune Support.
If you have a Zune Pass, you can access your Zune Pass media on up to three authorized computers and three authorized devices.
