Information about transferring WMDRM-protected content to portable media devices with Windows Media Player 10 (895939)

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Before it copies files to a portable media player device, Windows Media Player 10 checks the file format against playback capabilities that are reported by the firmware of the device. If the file types fit within the capabilities of the device, Windows Media Player transfers the files unmodified. If any file is outside the capabilities of a device, Windows Media Player will try to convert the file to a playable format. For example, the bitrate may exceed the maximum bitrate that the device supports.

In the case of video files that are protected by WMDRM, the files are not permitted to be converted in Windows Media Player 10. The player will block the transfer of protected video files because it is unlikely that they will play correctly on the device without the required conversion.

Audio files are still transferred to the device without conversion. This behavior occurs because frequently the file will still be playable, even though it is outside the reported capabilities of the device. For example, most commercially purchased files that are encoded with a high variable bitrate are playable on many devices even if the devices do not report the appropriate capabilities. Because of this behavior, some protected audio files will be transferred that will not play back correctly on the device. These files include the following file types:

• Protected audio files that have a bitrate that exceeds the maximum capability of the device
• Protected Windows Media Audio Professional Lossless files on a device that does not support the lossless format

You cannot work around this behavior. However, this behavior does not represent an actual device malfunction. Most files that are protected with WMDRM come from online services that offer content for purchase or for subscription use. Microsoft is working with device companies and content services under the PlaysForSure logo program to promote using formats and technologies that will make sure that files that are purchased from services with the logo will play correctly and will be fully supported on devices with the logo. We recommend that consumers look for the PlaysForSure logo when they purchase a portable media player device or online media content.