Windows Media Player - Media Usage Rights Acquisition - Once or Always

I subscribed to an instructional poker website that has videos. If I download them, Windows Media Player brings up Media Usage Rights Acquisition which asks me for my username and password for the website. I type those in, and it says License Issued and allows me to play the video.

I'm worried by this. If I subscribe to a magazine, I can keep the magazines and read them later. I'm worried that's not going to work this way in this situation.

QUESTION 1 - If I stop the subscription in the future, can I still play videos that I already played? Or, does it check if the license is still active each time it's played -- so in the future, it could say that my subscription isn't valid, and disallow me from playing the videos?

QUESTION 2 - If I back up the license files through License Management, and in the future I purchase a new computer or reformat this existing one, can I always restore the license files -- even if at that point in the future my subscription is no longer active? I figure there must be some sort of catch here, or else everyone could circumvent the license management by distributing the license backup file.

Hi darlingm, I cant answer question 2 (it depends on exactly how their DRM works, but the below answer might help)

As for question 1, within theory if you press ALT>Tools>Options and uncheck all 5 boxes at the top of the "privacy" tab, then that should stop Media player trying to download usage rights. That may also help with your 2nd question, but as I said, it depends on how they do it.

Thanks! With those settings off, it does complain about a file not already played, asking permission to get a license -- as expected. But with those settings off with an already licensed file, it just plays without asking any permission... So looks like you solved my question 1, allowing me to play the files in the future without a continuing subscription if I choose to do so.

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't be suprised if Media Player allows you to play them if you reinstall Windows anyway. I have DRM protected music on my system, and when Windows wants to play it after a clean install, it just goes to Microsoft and downloads the license from there. Having said that, if it tries to download from the subscription site, you might have a problem. At least you know how to fix that now though.