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How can I remove the DRM copy protection on the music tracks purchased from Nokia so that I can play them on an iPod and burn them to a CD/DVD disc?

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Problem

I bought some music tracks from Nokia's online store. I want to transfer them to my iPod. Unfortunately, all of the tracks are in the WMA format (myfile.wma) and are DRM-protected. Is there any way to remove the protection so that I can use these files anywhere, includng burning them to a CD/DVD?

Answer

There are applications that will remove the protection from DRM-protected WMA tracks but it is illegal to do so. At the time of writing this, most other music stores had started to sell DRM-free tracks, but Nokia had yet to do so. The company is rumoured to drop DRM in 2010, but you will be stuck with your DRM-protected music tracks unless you want to take the illegal route and remove the protection (to find free applications, enter drm removal freeware in the Google search box at the top of this page, with the Web Search option enabled on the first search age). I would just buy music downloads from a DRM-free store, such as Amazon.co.uk or iTunes. Amazon is best, in my opinion, because the files are not DRM-protected and its MP3-file (myfile.mp3) downloads play on anything, whereas, as usual, Apple only uses its own AAC format.