In a recent update to its Deprecated Windows features page, Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of Legacy Digital Rights Management (DRM) services associated with Windows Media Player and Silverlight for users operating on Windows 7 and Windows 8. This decision effectively halts the streaming and playback of DRM-protected content within these applications on the aforementioned operating systems. Additionally, it impacts the ability to play content from personal CD rips and to stream from a Silverlight or Windows 8 client to an Xbox 360, should any users still be engaging in these activities.
Understanding DRM and Its Implications
For those who may not be well-versed in the terminology, DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a technology designed to prevent unauthorized use of digital content. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that users do not engage in piracy, a concern that remains prevalent despite the availability of legitimate content. Nowadays, most officially distributed movies, television shows, and games incorporate some form of DRM, unless they are explicitly marketed as DRM-free.
In addition to the discontinuation of Legacy DRM services, Microsoft is also set to retire Paint 3D in November. There were even whispers of the Control Panel facing a similar fate, though it appears to have escaped the chopping block for now. Nevertheless, the removal of basic Windows Media Player functionality for older versions of Windows leaves many users with a sense of unease. If Microsoft aspires to position itself as a media company, it must ensure that legitimate media remains accessible within its software offerings.
