According to The Next Web, the DRM for WP7 applications has been broken. Originally reported on WPcentral, both publications seem to be very concerned (yet still publish) about the serious implications this could have on the WP7 platform.
I must ask, why?
First off, if you are a developer, you should automatically assume that whatever platform you are developing for will be broken eventually, and the possibility exists that you will get an app download or two stolen from you. It has happened on nearly every platform, including the almighty iOS. To be angry or upset is somewhat.., pointless. This should be an understood risk amongst developers.
We must also factor in that the mainstream consumer is very lazy and have a lack of knowledge on such topics. While both publications claim that it is easy to steal applications, it took me twenty minutes of explaining to my girlfriend and my roommate how to steal an application from the WP7 Marketplace. Their response? “Damn, that’s a lot of work. Can’t I just buy it?”
This is why iTunes is such a success even though piracy is “supposedly” rampant. It is easier to click the buy now button for mainstream consumers from a place they know is safe, instead of digging through torrents. Hell, I know how to torrent safely, and I don’t even deal with it. Sometimes expanding past our own nerd bubbles of what is considered “easy” can be a good thing.
In short, this is not a big deal. Should Microsoft address the issue? Yes, and they should do so quickly. Microsoft is just like any retailer, and product will be stolen from them from time to time. Failsafes put in place such as DRM have never totally protected digital content, just like security devices at my retail establishment do not always protect product from theft. In my opinion, this should be considered an accepted reality amongst all developers, bloggers, and users.
Plus, according to TNW, this does not seem to be slowing down Marketplace growth any.
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