The release of FairUse4WM is sure to have given Microsoft a black eye. The software allowed any user to strip the Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) software from downloaded files, thus allowing him to do whatever he pleased with them. As the release of a anti-FairUse4WM had proved to be just a temporary solution, Microsoft now seeks to put an end to this threat the best way it can: with a lawsuit. However, the company might have a lot of trouble in the court.
Microsoft most certainly has an army of lawyers at its disposal, but first has to manage a rather funny issue. The company’s “people to sue” list is still empty. While the virtual identities of the hackers might be easy to track down, the real names (and addresses) might remain a mystery for some time.
The only name mentioned in Microsoft’s filing in a district court in Seattle, Wash. is “viodentia”, a person supposed to be the ringleader of the group behind FairUse4WM. According to Microsoft, 10 people have been involved in developing the DRM-stripping software.
The Redmond-based company plans to subpoena to e-mail service providers, hoping that the track down of e-mail addresses might hope to link the nicknames with the real identities of the individuals.
Microsoft is suing for copyright infringement, based on the fact that FairUse4WM uses code from Windows Media software development kit version 9.5. The company claims that the FairUse4WM software is responsible for over $75,000 in losses and seeks a permanent injunction against the defendants and compensation.
