Just when I thought DRM couldn't get stupider, Microsoft goes and proves me wrong. With no market share in the portable player/music store space, they've figured out their response: screw the customers. From the license:

Windows Media Player 11 does not permit you to back up your media usage rights (previously known as licenses). However, depending upon where your protected files came from, you might be able to restore your rights over the Internet.

That's right kids, getting a new laptop? You might conceivably get your own music back, maybe:

If you encounter an error message that indicates you are missing play, burn, or sync rights for a file and you had these rights previously, you might be able to resolve the problem by restoring your media usage rights. You have several options to do so:

It goes on from there with an explanation of how far you have to bend over in order to have MS deign to give you access to your own stuff. You know, the DRM on Apple's stuff is annoying, but they do make it possible to get around it. The insanity on display here is just mind boggling.

The Inquirer is often a questionable source, but I'm with them on this piece.

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