Windows marketplace copy protection seems to be cracked.

[Flar]

A couple of sites write about Chainfire's article about cracking the copy protection for windows marketplace:

Originally Posted by Engadget Microsoft's Windows Phones just left the chute a few days ago, and already it seems that ye old DRM is getting talked about -- and not in a good way. According to one Chainfire over at XDA-Developers, the so-called "copy protection" involved in keeping applications in place rather than strewn across a neighborhood of handsets is a pitiful joke, requiring just five minutes of tinkering to save the CAB files that the Marketplace app downloads to a separate folder. In other words, that relocated CAB file could be distributed to all of your friends, turning a single purchase into freeware for as many people as you know (or don't know, even). So, Marketplace devs -- does that make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, or what? Engadget article

There's also an article on this topic by Phonemag and Afterdawn

[MadMartyn]

Well that was to be expected, nothing will ever be really protected.

[x51]

I dont get it? Why use protection at all?
Pay through windows marketplace just like you would through handango. The Trial will download and install and you will get your serial number via email. Let people distribute the cab.. it's a trial.

This way the developers are responsible for their own chosen form of copy protection whether it's a key that must match the owner name like Resco uses, or just an arbitrary serial number, or online activation.

Sure everything even activation can be cracked.. I have yet to find a mainstream app that is NOT cracked.. But it would certainly help cut down on casual piracy and not all apps would use the same protection. Crack one, you crack them all is not ideal. Well not for the app developers anyway...

[gmanfuzing]

Originally Posted by x51 I dont get it? Why use protection at all? Pay through windows marketplace just like you would through handango. The Trial will download and install and you will get your serial number via email. Let people distribute the cab.. it's a trial. This way the developers are responsible for their own chosen form of copy protection whether it's a key that must match the owner name like Resco uses, or just an arbitrary serial number, or online activation. Sure everything even activation can be cracked.. I have yet to find a mainstream app that is NOT cracked.. But it would certainly help cut down on casual piracy and not all apps would use the same protection. Crack one, you crack them all is not ideal. Well not for the app developers anyway...

not everything is a trail , all trail products are free (almost all) many of the products are just pay and they are yours , no serial to email , no code to enter.

[godefroi]

I have a hard time believing that the entire "DRM" scheme used in marketplace apps consists of preventing access to the .cab files used to do the installs.