FairUse4WM 1.3 Released

Well, the cat and mouse game continued today with the latest release of FairUse4WM version 1.3. FairUse4WM is a program used to strip the Windows DRM from audio files "leased" from online services such as Yahoo Music, Napster, etc.  This type of program can be very damaging to the pricing models of these companies subscription services where users typically pay fixed rates from $9.95 to $14.95 to lease the music as long as the subscription is valid.  Once the subscription is invalid, the user would no longer be allowed to listen to the music due to the DRM in place. FairUse4WM effectively removes this restriction and could potentially allow users unlimited and unrestricted access to millions of downloadable songs for lower prices than those of legally purchased songs which typically range from $.79 to $1.00.  This latest release removes the changes Microsoft made when it released a DRM patch to music services on Sept 23.

Right on the heals of this release, MSNBC has reported that Microsoft, in an attempt to prevent future development of this application, has filed suit against the developer (hacker in their words) Viodentia.  Microsoft is claiming that Viodentia has illegally obtained proprietary source code in order remove the DRM.  Microsoft is seeking an injunction and unspecified damages.