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Note As of 15 November 2015, the Zune service has been discontinued. This may cause errors when attempting to stream or download content or update the service.
Typically, media you download from an online service is protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Protected media comes with a licence containing media usage rights that specify how you can use the content. For example, media usage rights for a song might allow you to play the song on one computer and sync it to a certain number of devices, but might prevent you from burning the song to a CD or playing it on a different computer.
Learn more about DRM-protected media and how it works with Xbox Music and the Zune software.
Note Zune Marketplace not available in all countries or regions.
Some media you purchase from the Zune Marketplace is protected, and purchased media often comes with a permanent licence. However, MP3 files are "DRM-free", which means they’re not DRM-protected, and there are no restrictions on how these files are used or distributed.
To find out whether songs are DRM-protected
To find out whether videos are DRM-protected
Note Music Pass and Zune Marketplace not available in all countries or regions.
All music that you download as part of an Xbox Music Pass (which includes Zune Music Pass) is DRM-protected. While your pass is valid:
Licences
Licences need to be updated periodically, so be sure to connect the computer that has your Xbox Music Pass items to Zune Marketplace at least once every two weeks, so that Zune Music + Video can refresh your licenses. If you sync protected songs to a device, you'll need to sync periodically to refresh those licences as well.
If your licences expire, you won't be able to listen to the protected songs until you restore the media usage rights. For example, if your Xbox Music Pass lapses, the licences for Xbox Music Pass items will expire, and you'll need to renew them before you can play your music using an Xbox Music Pass again.
Note Zune Marketplace not available in all countries or regions.
In most cases, the Zune Music + Video software downloads media usage rights for you. In case it can't, the software will let you know what your options are. Just follow the instructions displayed.
Note Music Pass and Zune Marketplace not available in all countries or regions.
Usage rules for content that you purchase
A licence will automatically be used in the following scenarios:
Note The MP3 format doesn’t include DRM and therefore doesn’t include these restrictions.
Usage rules for content that you obtain by using an Xbox Music Pass or a Zune Music Pass
Note Purchased content does not expire when your subscription ends.
For more information, see Xbox Live Terms of Use (which includes Zune terms).
For more information about the topics discussed in this article, press F1 on the keyboard when the Zune software is running to view the Zune Help file.
Note Music Pass and Zune Marketplace not available in all countries or regions.
What is DRM?
DRM is Digital Rights Management. DRM technology is used by content providers, such as online stores, to control how digital music and video files are used and distributed. Online stores sell and rent DRM-protected music and videos that have media usage rights to enable specific use of the content. The Zune Music + Video software, Zune devices and Zune Marketplace support and use Windows Media Digital Rights Management.
What is a protected song or a protected video?
A protected song or video is a file that uses DRM protection. To play the protected song or video, you must have the media usage rights for it.
Does Zune play all protected files?
No. The Zune software and devices only play protected music files from Zune Marketplace.
What are media usage rights?
Media usage rights, also known as licences, are permissions to use a protected song or a protected video in a particular way. Content providers can specify in the media usage rights how you can use the protected content that you obtain from them. For example, Zune Marketplace can grant the following media usage rights for content:
Examples of DRM-protected content in the Zune Marketplace
Examples of DRM-free content in the Zune Marketplace
What is a licence?
A licence is another name for media usage rights. By default, DRM content that’s purchased from the Zune Marketplace is allocated five computer licences and unlimited device syncs. In some cases, additional licences may be available if you use all five default computer licences. To obtain additional licences issued for content, you must contact Xbox Support. A licence is automatically consumed in the following scenarios:
Are media usage rights stored in the music or video file?
No. Media usage rights are stored on the computer separately from your music or video files.
How does the Zune software use media usage rights?
When you try to use a protected song or a protected video, the Zune software checks whether you have valid media usage rights for that file. If the media usage rights let you perform the action, Zune performs that action for you.
If Zune does not find valid media usage rights for the file, or if the rights do not let you perform the action, Zune does not perform the action. Typically, you receive an error message that states why the action was not performed. You can also check the properties of the file in the Zune software to view the content’s DRM rights.
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