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).
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:
- Play the song on your computer an unlimited number of times.
- Sync the song to two portable devices five times per month.
- Burn the song to an audio CD up to seven times.
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:
- In your music collection, click Songs.
Right-click the column header area and select Choose Columns.
- Select DRM.
"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 using a Zune Pass music subscription. If you want to burn these songs to a CD, you have to buy them first using either Microsoft Points or song credits.
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 or with song credits. Purchased media comes with a permanent license. To see all media that you purchased using song credits, sign into the Zune software and go to Settings, Account, Purchase History.
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 see all media that you downloaded as part of your subscription, see Settings, Account, Subscription History.
Are songs I buy using song credits still protected?
If they're in the MP3 format, no. If they're not MP3, then they're covered by the same licenses that govern the use of other purchased music.
In any case, your license is permanent and the songs are yours to keep.
Can I remove DRM from a song or video?
No. Once applied to a song or video, DRM can't be removed from it. Songs in the MP3 format purchased using Microsoft Points or song credits have no DRM.
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, however, easily redownload protected songs and videos from Zune Marketplace as long as the items in question are still part of Zune Marketplace and either or both of the following is the case:
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
Sign in to Zune Marketplace.
Click Settings, Account.
Click Purchase History or Subscription History, depending on the type of content you want to restore.
Select Songs, Videos, orMusic videos, as appropriate.
Select the items whose rights need to be restored.
Click Download for one or multiple items. ClickRestore all to get them all.
You can do something else while the rights are restored, like play music or search Zune Marketplace.
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
Sign in to Zune Marketplace.
Click Settings, Account.
Click Purchase History or Subscription History, depending on the type of content you want to restore.
Select Songs, Videos, orMusic videos, as appropriate.
Select the items you want.
Click Download for one or multiple items. ClickRestore all to get them all.
Note that you can download songs that you buy five times for WMA files, and just once for MP3 files (including your initial purchase download). Videos can only be downloaded once.
If you have a Zune Pass, you can access your Zune Pass media on up to three authorized computers and three authorized Zune players.
