Microsoft DRM Tool has Launched!

For those of you who have had a problem with content licensing/Microsoft's DRM, they have released the much talked about "Content Licensing Transfer Tool", or more commonly, the DRM Tool. Info about the tool and how to use it can be found here.

For those of you wondering, the tool is helpful for those who have had more than 1 360. If you purchased two arcade games on your first 360, they would be licensed to that console's ID. Now say you purchased an Elite when they were released and purchased dozens of other arcade games. You are allowed to redownload those first two games, but they are still licensed to your old console's ID and cannot be played while not connect to Xbox Live. This tool will allow you to transfer those two games to your current console's ID.

Main Points:

-The DRM tool allows you to transfer licenses from one console to another. For instance, if you bought a console a year ago and downloaded a bunch of content but then bought a new console this year and downloaded more content, you couldn't play all of the content on both 360s without being signed into LIVE. With this tool, you can consolidate all of the downloaded content licenses to your preferred console. This way, you don't have to be signed into LIVE to play.

-The process takes less than a minute. There is no content being transferred, only licenses.

- This process will work on any console so if you had to trade an Xbox 360 at a local retailer, you can still use the tool to migrate your information. However, you can only do this once every year (365 Days). If you send the console to Microsoft to be repaired, they will automatically update all of your licenses. For more information on console repair, visit: http://www.xbox.com/support.

-If you bought a larger hard drive and are re-downloading your licensed content for the same console, then you should not need the DRM tool. However, if you used the Migration cable to transfer your content from an older console to a newer one, you will need to use the tool to update the licenses. Again, you can only do this once a year.

-You will still be able to play all of the games you own on all of your consoles as long as you're signed-in to LIVE. The console you transferred your licenses to will be the one that you can use without having to be signed-in.

-The tool will work with all content except movies. Movies are not "download-to-own" so the licenses are not transferrable.

Xbox-Scene has also had a chance to sit down with Marc Whitten, the general manager of Xbox Live, to talk about the new tool:

I ran into this just yesterday. I was wondering where the elusive DRM fix was that was supposed to come as an automatic update in June. It's about time Microsoft got around to fixing this though.

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You mean there are people who play offline......Weird

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Very cool. Did not have internet over last X-Mas break at a relatives house and this would of been nice then.

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Sooo glad this is finally done!! Now I just need to get online to dl it!

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Don't make me run, I'm full of chocolate!

lol raine... the irony.

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It sucks re-downloading all of your files. I did this the other day and it almost took me an hour with all my gamerpics, themes, dlc, and huge list of xbla games. I didn't bother re-downloading trials or game videos. I'd hate to have a really large Rock Band or GH dlc music list. That could take a while. LOL!

Still it took a long time. Its worth it though if you ever find yourself offline. I timed my 12 months xbox live gold subscription to the once a year drm download so....

1) I would remember,
2) Just in case,
3) Coincidence

... also a good note is that any gamertag on your system (say wife or kids or friends who still dont own a 360) can play the main account holders full library of games offline also.

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