Information Rights Management uses Microsoft Windows Live Services to authenticate user accounts. The Information Rights Management Wizard helps you use your Windows Live ID to establish that you are a valid user and that your identity have been confirmed. You can then create or use restricted content, including documents, spreadsheets, and e-mail. Note that you must run this Wizard for each Windows Live ID that you want to use to create or use restricted content. For information about the information that we collect, see Privacy statement.
After you sign in to Windows Live from within the Information Rights Management Wizard, Windows Live Member Services sends an e-mail message to your Windows Live account asking you to verify your e-mail address if your e-mail address has not already been verified. Follow the instructions in the message to verify your e-mail address. Windows Live can then validate your account by comparing the e-mail address you verified with the e-mail address to which the Windows Live account is registered. If you choose not to verify your e-mail address, you will not be able to use your Windows Live ID to create or use restricted content.
The type of computer you are using determines how long you can use your Windows Live ID on the computer to access restricted content. You must choose one of the following computer types:
Your computer limit is the maximum number of computers on which you can run this wizard using your Windows Live ID. If you attempt to exceed this limit, the wizard displays a message notifying you that you have reached your computer limit. You can then choose to do one of the following:
The following list of frequently asked questions provides additional information about configuring your computer to create or use rights-protected content.
Content refers to text, graphics, images, or any other information that is contained in a file.
Both restricted content and protected content refer to encrypted digital content that requires a license to decrypt the content. Content owners restrict the use of their content by using licenses that define the rights allowed to specific users. For example, by using a license, a content owner can specify who can modify the content, thereby protecting that content from being changed without the owner's permission.
Some Web sites store information in a small text file, called a "cookie," on your computer's hard disk. The Information Rights Management Wizard uses cookies to confirm your Windows Live sign-in, but these cookies do not remain on your computer after you close your Web browser. For more information about enabling cookies, see Microsoft Internet Explorer Help.
Microsoft uses your Windows Live ID to create a rights account certificate, which the Information Rights Management Wizard downloads to your computer. A rights account certificate enables certain software on your computer to work with restricted content. For example, a rights account certificate allows you to view or create a protected document using Information Rights Management technology. For information about the information that we collect, see Privacy statement.
As more and more content is becoming available online, content creators are increasing content security to protect their information. By downloading a rights account certificate to your computer, you will be able to both create and access protected digital content using Information Rights Management technology.
If you choose not to download a rights account certificate, you will not be able to create or access digital content that has been protected using Information Rights Management technology. In addition, some content owners will not allow you to open their digital content unless you have a valid rights account certificate, even if you are willing to pay for that content.
When you request a rights account certificate, your Windows Live ID and hardware attributes are used to calculate a permission code that allows you to use restricted content on your computer. This permission code is encrypted to help prevent information about your computer from being accessed by malicious programs or users. For information about the information that we collect, see Privacy statement.
Updated versions of rights account certificates are made available from time to time to increase security or enable new features. Software programs or content providers may incorporate these new security tactics or features, which would require you to update your certificate in order to work with existing restricted content or to create new restricted content.
A rights account certificate for a private computer is valid for six months, and a rights account certificate for a public or shared computer is valid for 15 minutes. When a rights account certificate expires, in order to continue using restricted content you must download another certificate by using the Information Rights Management Wizard.
Without a Windows Live ID, you cannot be identified; therefore, you cannot download a rights account certificate, which is necessary to access restricted content. Your rights account certificate is a software component that is unique to you.
Think of a Windows Live ID as your credentials for accessing restricted content. Restricted content includes a set of permissions that specify both who can use that content, and how it can be used. For example, a content owner might restrict the use of their content to one computer. In that case, you would not be able to open that content on another computer, even if you have enabled your Windows Live ID to work with restricted content. In another scenario, the permissions for restricted content could be set to allow you to use that content on multiple computers. However since that content is linked to your Windows Live ID, only you can access it.
In addition, after you download a rights account certificate to a specific computer using your Windows Live ID, you can use that certificate to create new restricted content. If you transfer this restricted content to a different computer that does not have a rights account certificate (for example, by using a floppy disk), you will need to download a separate certificate to work with the restricted content on the second computer.
For information about Microsoft Windows Live privacy, see the Privacy statement.
Possibly. If you have a Microsoft MSN® or Microsoft Hotmail® e-mail address, you already have a valid Windows Live ID. However, if you do not already have a Windows Live ID and you want to use restricted content, you must register for a Windows Live ID.
Yes. However, each Microsoft Windows Live sign-in is treated as a different account. You can have as many Windows Live IDs as you want, but you cannot transfer restricted content between them. Therefore, it is recommended that you use one Windows Live ID consistently with your restricted content to avoid confusion.
With a Windows Live ID, you can use restricted content on up to 25 different computers on which you have a valid standard rights account certificate, that is, which you have configured as private computers. This limit balances your convenience with a content creator's need to protect their content.
If you reach your 25-computer limit, you also have the option to download a temporary rights account certificate by specifying that the computer your are using is one that you share with others. Each user account can have only one active temporary certificate at a time.
Your computer limit is the maximum number of computers to which you may download a standard rights account certificate using your Windows Live ID by specifying that the computers are private computers. If you attempt to exceed this limit, the wizard displays a message notifying you that you have reached your computer limit. You can then choose to do one of the following:
You may not be able to access restricted content for the following reasons:
If you are unable to sign in using your Windows Live ID, the Windows Live Web site may be unavailable, or you may need to delete the browser cookies from your computer. To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:
If you are unable to sign-in, Windows Live may be unavailable due to maintenance or technical difficulties, and you can try again later. If you are able to sign in to your Windows Live ID, go to Step 2.