The piece of software, which is being distributed anonymously
on-line, aims to override Microsoft’s digital rights management
(DRM) software. The DRM software allows a content owner such as a
record label to set rules on how the content can be used.
Restrictions can be placed on the number of times a song could be
played, for example, or specify that the song cannot be transferred
to a particular type of technology such as an MP3 or recordable
CD.
Microsoft has presented its media protection system as a core
attraction of the Windows Media file format and has spent
considerable time and effort in promoting the system to music
labels and Hollywood studios in the hope that it will become their
preferred route for content distribution.
“Beale Screamer”, has said the motive behind his actions is to
stop the use of copyright to unjustifiably restrict consumer
enjoyment and use of a product:
“I think the idea of limited time, full
length previews, or time-limited internet based rentals is
excellent, If DRM was only used for this…I would not have taken the
effort to break the scheme. What is bad is the use of DRM to
restrict the traditional form of music sale. When I buy a piece of
music I expect my traditional fair use rights to the material. I
should be able to take that content, copy it onto all my computers
at home, my laptop, my portable MP3 player… basically anything I
use to listen to the music that I have purchased.”
The effect of the release of “Beale Screamer’s” software has
been played down by Microsoft. The software has limitations in that
it works only on the most recent version of Microsoft’s DRM
technology with which a fairly small amount of content has been
encoded. Moreover, in order for the software to be effective, a
computer user must already have a valid licence or digital
permission slip to listen to the song.
However, in a call to other programmers to take up battle
against copyright protectors, “Beale Screamer” says: “You know that
Microsoft is going to make some changes that will render my
software useless, you’ve got the source code, so use that as a
starting point to change with them.”
