re: This item is no longer available at Zune Marketplace - Error Code: C00D27E1

I just reformatted my PC and installed Windows 7 today (legal version from TechNet).   I made sure before doing so that all my Zune content was backed up.  After re-installing the Zune software and copying all of my music content back to my PC, I got the error message C00D27E1 on 12 tracks and 2 albums. 

CAN'T PLAY

Summary:
This item is no longer available at Zune Marketplace.  Because of this, you can no longer play it or sync it with your Zune.  There might be another iteration of it available in Zune Marketplace.

Eroor Code:
C00D27E1

This is due to the content being removed from the Zune MarketPlace.  Some of the content has been changed to MP3 and some of the content has just been deleted from the site.

I called Zune Support and opened a case.  Case # 1111497222.

The resolution to the case by Zune Support was to say they are sorry and that I should have burned all of my protected content to CD and re-ripped it.  They said that burning to CD was the only true way to backup the content.   So, Microsoft's policy is to burn everything to CD.  That doesn't make sense since we own Zune devices that play the content.  Who wants to use CDs.  Besides, who wants to retype all the meta data on the re-ripped CDs. 

I suggested that Microsoft's policy should be to either issue credit (Microsoft Points) or allow the download of the MP3 versions of the songs.  Apple iTunes automatically notifies their customers that MP3 versions are available and gives them the option to convert their content for a minimal price.  Come on Microsoft, you can do the same.

If the content has been removed from Zune MarketPlace I can understand why the content can not be purchased anymore.  But, why is it hard to re-issue licenses for content that has already been purchased and downloaded.  This is the real flaw in the Zune MarketPlace design or licensing arrangements with the music companies.  If I own the song then I should have rights to the song and technology should not stand in the way.

Also does Microsoft not understand that people change PCs frequently.  I typically reload the OS on my PC or get a new one every year.  So this issue will be a problem every year for me.  Is it good use of Microsoft resources to spend over an hour on the phone with each customer that has this problem to go over each and every song purchased and what the error code is?  I don't think so.

As the months and years go on all the protected content that I've purchased at the Zune MarketPlace will slowly disappear.  I am very dissatisfied with the resolution to this case.  Microsoft management needs to come up with a better answer to this issue.

I for one will not purchase anymore protected content (music, videos, movies or whatever) from the Zune MarketPlace and will make it a pratice for my XBOX video purchases as well.

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Drew

Man, I feel you on that man, I lost over 200 dollars worth of music just cause they changed up some of the songs on the marketplace, I'm pissed about that. I pay good money to be loyal to microsoft, and I feel as though they *** on the loyal microsoft consumer, I'm still getting the HD, but it's the principle though.

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I'm a Zune boy, I'm loving it! :)

Don't blame Microsoft.  Blame the RIAA.  They are the ones that keep screwing with the usage rights.  This is what I get for legally obtaining my music. 

As documented, this should not be happening - purchased non-MP3 content should continue to play even if it's no longer sold.  (It just won't be able to be re-downloaded.)   See this thread, if you want to help.

But yes, the recommendation is to burn all purchased content to Audio CD first as a worst case scenario backup.  Or stick to content marked with the MP3 icon.  Either way, you still need to back up the files.

It looks like the DRM issues still continue for Zune customers as they try to upgrade their PCs to Windows 7.  See this recent article on the issue:

DRM Problems Plague Some Zune Marketplace Customers - http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f5/drm-problems-plague-some-zune-marketplace-customers-95807.html

As for me, I never heard back from Microsoft and this issue is still unresolved for me.

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Drew

This is a perfect example of DRM punishing good honest consumers. DRM does nothing to stop music piracy, but it has done a lot to punish the people foolish enough to purchase music files crippled by it's inclusion. DRM may have even pushed many consumers towards piracy as a more secure and convenient way to collect music. I've only been willing to start buying music now because DRM is going away. The idea that you were going to buy music and then be expected to never upgrade your operating system or hardware is absurd. The fact that long time consumers are expected to have to repurchase their songs without DRM is absurd as well. Why fleece and punish the good people who were willing to pay money for music? If the music industry had any sense they would have offered software to help their consumers remove the unnecessary DRM from their existing collection. The labels have obviously realized that DRM was a big mistake, so why not make up for that mistake by helping their customers remove the DRM from their collections?

In effect you weren't ever really sold the songs, just the nearly worthless rights to use those songs on that one machine with that one operating system. The music industry has been lawsuit happy in the past decade, I think in this case turnabout is fair play. I bet the industry would settle and pay a nice sum if faced with the humiliation of being sued by their loyal paying customers.