How to Remove DRM from Zune Marketplace Protected WMA WMV

DRM restriction of the Zune Marketplace

1. Music from Zune Marketplace is offered in DRM-restricted WMA format (2-pass CBR @ 192kbit/s) or non-DRM MP3 format (up to 320kbit/s) for a per-song or per-album fee, or via Zune Pass monthly/quarterly subscriptions; videos are also DRM-wrapped WMV can't be downloaded via Zune Pass.

2. Songs downloaded from the Marketplace are restricted by DRM similar to yet slightly different from Windows Media Centre's PlaysForSure DRM, meaning that songs purchased from PlaysForSure partners could not be playable in Zune Software or on the Zune device, although the reverse is true.

3. Zune Pass downloads cannot be burned to audio CD unless purchased, and become unplayable if the subscription lapses, or if in the future Microsoft should decide to discontinue the service. The Zune pass allows for 3 Zunes to share the downloaded DRM content as well as the content to be downloaded on up to 3 computers.

4. If you want to enjoy your Zune Marketplace purchased content on a new computer, you can download songs that you purchased five times for WMA files, and just once for MP3 files (including your initial purchase download). WMV videos can only be downloaded once.

Apple iTunes the same situation

Like the M4V TV shows and movie, as well as the M4P music from iTunes are copyright protected the same by Apple's incoperatible 'Fair Play' DRM system, which prohibites other device but iPods playing iTunes content. Furthermore, the iTunes rented movies have dead limitation to watch within 30days and 24hrs (once you began to watch it).

So unless Zune folks has a third party DRM Removal Software to strip the license protection and convert media formats to Zune compatible .wmv, .mp4, .m4v, or H.264, they can't enjoy those digital content, as what the big brands said, "On The Go"!

Part 1: How to remove DRM from Zune Marketplace protected WMA WMV

1. Free download this DRM removal software mentioned above, install and luanch it, the default settings work well with your PC, you don't need to make anymore configeration.

2. When come to the main interface, you can directly drag-drop the DRM-protected source media files (like .m4p .wma music amd .m4v .wmv video movie) to the conversion window, or hit the top-left 'Add' button to import the target files.

Since Zune plays WMV / M4V / MP4 / H.264 video files with peak 720 x 480 pixels and 30 fps, if you're picky on the output quality, the function module 'settings' can help you with it by offering adjustable parameters covering Bit Rate, Resolution, Aspect Ratio, and Frame Rate as well.

3. When finish the preceding 2 steps, hit 'start' button lower-right on the main window, then everything done, you can freely transfer iTunes to Zune and convert iPod to Zune

(1) Port your Zune with computer, open the Zune software, select Settings, then Software.
(2) Under Monitored folders, add a folder under Music that corresponds to the location of your iTunes music files, and another one under Video that corresponds to the location of your iTunes video files. Zune software will automatically add them to your collection.

Part 2: What if you want to convert DVD movie to Zune player

If you want to convert DVD movie to Zune, this DVD to Zune Converter for Windows can help to crack DVD CSS protection, split DVD movie to clips, and convert them to Zune compatible audio & video formats.

If you're a Mac-based user, this DVD to Zune Converter for Mac is an ideal choice.

The conversion process is the same easy and simple as illustrated above, here I just saved it.

Tips:

The DRM Removal and DVD Ripper software mentioned above can do even more jobs than converting all the popular media formats like M4P, M4B, M4V, WMV, ASF, WMA, MP4, M4A, AVI (Divx/Xvid), MOV, 3GP, 3G2, CD.dat, DVD.vob, h.264, HD(.m2ts; .tp; .trp; .ts), HD(.mp4; .wmv; .asf; .mpg; .vob; .mov; avi), DV, NSV, NUT, Real audio & video(.rm; .ra; .ram; .rmvb), FLV, FLAC, AIFF, SWF, MPG, MP3, AC3, OGG, APE, AAC, WAV, MKV, MKA, etc.

They support not only Zune, but also the other digital player as iPod, iPhone, PSP, PS3, Zune, Xbox, Creative Zen, Archos, Iriver, Sansa, Blackberry, Samsung, Sonywalkman, Nokia, HTC, LG, Moto, Cowon, Pocket PC, etc

You might also like to check for even more "How-To" transfer the DRM protected music, video, movie to media devices like iPod, iPhone, Zune, PSP, Xbox 360, PS3, Creative Zen, Archos, Sansa, Iriver, Samsung, Cowon, Sony Walkman, as well as mobile phones like HTC, Blackberry, Sony Erricsson, LG, Nokia, Motorola, etc.