The BBC is reporting that Microsoft’s WMA copy-protection has been cracked, and that a program for removing the protection has been published.
I haven’t seen any details from authoritative technically literate sources yet, but assuming it’s true…
“An analyst” (Mark Mulligan of Jupiter Research) said Microsoft was probably working to “close the hole” – but I suspect that might not be possible without breaking many or all WMA players out there – including portable music players that play Microsoft’s files.
If so, then from now on, people who buy WMA-protected music from online stores will be able to actually play it on any music-playing equipment they own. Paid-for downloads will be almost as high quality as illegal downloads.
What I would therefore expect would be an enormous spike in the volume of legal paid-for downloads. I would certainly start buying them myself.
This could be the best thing to happen to the music studios since the invention of the CD.