[SOLVED] Sharing a Zune Pass

[gadman]

I've read around your boards, very nice by the way, and have seen a few things on sharing your pass and how it works. I understand that you're allowed to share it on 3 zunes, on 3 computers. Meaning only 3 zunes on 1 computer, or 1 zune on each computer. My question is... Is it legal to get with your friend and split the cost on 1 zune pass on two computers, on two different zunes. Don't tell me that it's not legal but you can still do it, I want to know if it's actually LEGAL. If you can find the TOS and c/p the line, I can't find the TOS anywhere. Or just simply paste the TOS in here for me.

I'm asking this because we live in two different states, seperated with over 2000 miles between us, and it's just just as simple as having you and your sister, in the same house, share the same pass. Yes we are related, in the same family. We just need to know that if it's legal, and if they have a detection system to detect that we're living in two WAY different places.

I've tried googling around, with no success. Your boards have many posts on it, but as I said with just the basics on the numbers, not the locations.

Thanks for reading this, and remember that I don't want a guess... I would much prefer a correct answer rather than a, "You can, but I don't know the legal parts of it"...

(side question) What file format is the download in? Is it DDRM?

14.2 Zune Pass subscription content usage rules
With a Zune Pass, you may stream or download content on a subscription basis on up to three (3) computers and up to three (3) Zune devices. However, you must sign into the Zune Marketplace at least once every 30 days to refresh the digital licenses that accompany each download of subscription content. If you have transferred subscription content to your Zune device(s), you will need to connect the Zune device(s) to your computer and log into the Zune Marketplace to refresh your device(s) at least monthly or you may lose your access to such content.
You will also receive song credits for up to ten (10) downloads of audio sound recordings from Zune Marketplace during each month of your Zune Pass subscription, at no additional cost to you. Content purchased with these song credits may be used under the terms listed above in Section 14.1 and will not expire when your subscription ends. These song credits are non-transferable. Any unredeemed song credits will expire at the end of each monthly period and will not rollover to subsequent monthly periods.
With Zune Pass, you may also subscribe to Channels. Channels are themed, automatically refreshing song lists. When you subscribe to a Channel, you can listen it, sync it to your Zune device, and save it as a playlist in your collection as long as you continue to subscribe to Zune Pass. We may change the list of songs in a Channel at any time, upon which the updated song list will be downloaded to your computer. If you want to preserve songs in your collection before a Channel is automatically updated, you can either save a complete set of songs as a permanent playlist or add individual songs to your collection at any time as long as you continue to subscribe to the Zune Pass service. If you do not have a subscription to Zune Pass, you will not be able to subscribe to Channels.
Subscription content can be played only as long as you continue to subscribe to Zune Pass. If you choose to end your subscription or it otherwise terminates for any reason, you will not be able to play any Zune Pass subscription content that you have downloaded.
You cannot burn subscription content and/or playlists containing subscription content to CD. However, you can separately purchase content from Zune Marketplace under the terms listed above in Section 14.1. Any purchased content would not expire when your subscription ends.

So the TOS doesn't really go into detail about it. I guess I'll just give it a shot and try it anyways. Oh well. If anyone knows the answer anways, you're welcome to post it here still.

Thanks.

[Azu-nyan]

Alright, here's how it goes: All that MS cares about is that you have no more than 3 computers and 3 Zunes using the content. They can tell computers because computers will identify themselves to the Zune servers (not sure if different accounts on the same computer will count as separate, but I know they have separate libraries). Zunes can also be identified specifically, and MS can keep track of which ones are authorized to connect. You can deauthorize a Zune by delinking it from the Social account, but I'm not sure how to deauthorize a computer (perhaps an uninstall?). Sharing schemes are not entirely uncommon, it's a tactic used to get international users the Zune Pass by having a US member and two international members to split the cost and use the US account. Again, who actually uses the account doesn't matter, you're paying for the license to three Zunes and computers, not for any specific amount of people. So long as it stays on those devices, there's no problem. Also, the file format is DRM'ed .wma, I believe.

[gadman]

As I had said:

Originally Posted by gadman

Thanks for reading this, and remember that I don't want a guess... I would much prefer a correct answer rather than a, "You can, but I don't know the legal parts of it"...

And took a closer look into the TOS:

6. You are responsible for your service account.
Only you may use your service account. For some parts of the service, we may notify you that you may set up additional member accounts that are dependent on your account (an "associated account"). You are responsible for all activity that takes place with your service account or an associated account. You may not authorize any third party to access and/or use the service on your behalf.

All I can say is thanks for doing what I asked you to not do =\

This question has been solved.

[Azu-nyan]

I was doing what you asked for, because to my knowledge there was nothing legally stopping from doing it. In fact, it's still not illegal; a TOS is not a law, it's not illegal to violate it, all that it is is an agreement with the company to use your service, and if broken they can deny you that service. Anyway, if it's solved, it's solved, solved and locked.
:locke: