Some content providers implement DRM on their sites to prevent pirates from ripping off content they did not pay for, burning protected content onto DVDs, or sharing the media on a network.
The program only works one file at a time and requires the use of Windows Media 10 or 11. To use the program, the user would load the video or audio file into the program, which then strips it of its DRM keys allowing it to be shared unlimitedly.
FairUse4WM’s debut comes at a time when many companies offering digital media are spending substantial sums for DRM licenses to protect their content. Advocates argue that DRM is necessary for copyright holders to prevent unauthorized duplication of their work. DRM opponents argue that the presence of DRM infringes private property rights and restricts a range of normal user activities.
Originally released on Usenet, the program has been mirrored worldwide.
Online message boards are rife with talk over the program’s implications for downloadable media. Many expect Microsoft to issue patches just as fast as the program’s creator issues updated versions.
