Weed F.A.Q. Page
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1. Basic questions about Weed
2. Common artist questions
3. Weed file distribution questions
4. Weed Media Activator questions
5. Payment system questions
6. Technical questions & Troubleshooting
1. Basic Questions About Weed
Q: OK, what's the deal exactly?
A: The concept is pretty basic: Weed rewards people who share files and respect artists' rights.
You can play a Weed file three times for free on any PC. After three free plays, you're asked to pay for the file. You can use any current Windows Media-compatible player software to play the file. The Weed software, which keeps track of your account information, is used to purchase files.
Once you purchase a Weed file, you're free to play it all you want on up to three PCs. You also can burn the file to CD and play it on your stereo system, or transfer it to a portable device like the Creative Labs Nomad, the Rio S10, or any current Windows CE PDA.
Best of all, you can share Weed files with anyone you like, as long as the files remain in their original form as Windows Media files. And if someone you share a file with purchases that file, you'll earn a payment for helping to distribute it.
Specifically, the artist always receives 50% of each sale, and the rest goes to those who helped distribute the file. You get 20%, the person who shared the file with you gets 10%, and the person who shared the file with that person gets 5% of the sale price. Weed receives the final 15% for service and software maintenance costs.
All purchases and distributor payments are made into your Weed account through PayPal. Deposits and withdrawals from your Weed account cost 50 cents, but all other transactions are free. You must have a PayPal account to make deposits to your Weed account.
Q: How much do Weed files cost?
A: Music isn't a commodity. Every piece is unique. So we don't believe in a one-price-fits-all approach to music. The artist decides what to charge. Prices generally range from 50 cents to four dollars per title. Most are about a dollar.
Q: How can I get the Weed software?
A: The Weed v.2.0 software (only 720KB) is available from our download page, you'll also find detailed instructions, and system requirements there.
System requirements:
- For a Windows PC: Windows 98 or later.
- Broadband Internet Connection. (Weed files average around 5MB in size.)
- Version 7.1 of Windows Media Player, or more recent. Earlier versions of Windows Media Player will automatically attempt to update themselves when they encounter a Weed file. Current versions of the RealOne Player and MusicMatch Jukebox also work.
- A PayPal email address. You can begin using Weed without providing a PayPal address, but you will need a valid PayPal address to deposit and withdraw funds.
- Optional: For the full experience, you should have access to a CD burner and/or a portable player that supports the Windows Media format. Compatible portable players include the Creative Labs Nomad and the Rio S-10.
Q: How do I buy a Weed file?
A: First, download the Weed files you'd like to purchase. Then open and log in to the Weed Media Activator (the Weed software). You'll be looking at the Buy Files window, which displays a list of all the Weed files that you have downloaded. Locate the song you want to buy, and click once. A window will pop up to confirm your purchase. Click OK, and you now own the file.
If you don't see any files in your Buy Files window, click Account, then Select Weed Folder - here you can choose where the Weed software should look for your Weed files.
In the Buy Files list, you can tell which songs you own by the icon: the ones with the little lock on them are unpurchased, and the ones without the lock are purchased.
Q: So what's PayPal?
A: PayPal enables anyone with an email address to securely, conveniently, and cost-effectively send and receive payments online. Once you sign up for PayPal, you can send money to anyone with an email address using the money from your PayPal balance or another funding option of your choice, such as a credit card. Recipients are notified by email that they have received a payment.
With more than 25 million registered users, and growing by an average of 28,000 accounts a day, the PayPal service is presently available in five currencies and 38 countries.
It's easy to sign up for a PayPal account.
For more answers to your questions about PayPal, visit their help center.
Q: This sounds a little bit like multi-level marketing (MLM).
A: MLM programs generally require you to purchase and maintain inventory that you can't use personally and must resell if you want to make your money back. With Weed, you purchase a file for your own personal use and if you share a copy of that file with someone who buys it, you receive a monetary reward for acting responsibly. And unlike most MLM programs, there are no incentives for recruiting new members or building your network, no district managers, no promotional literature, no sales goals, no pre-qualifying quotas, no sales parties, no meetings, no bonuses, no reports to file, or anything like that. All we're doing is rewarding you for sharing files legally.
Q: Are users limited to Windows Media Player to play back the files on their computer? What platforms are supported?
A: Weed files can be played on recent versions of RealPlayer and MusicMatch Jukebox. Right now, the Weed software only works on Windows PCs or Macintosh PCs with OS X, Virtual PC emulator software and Windows. Long-term plans include expanding the platforms we support and working with multiple content formats.
Q: Does the Weed software play music files?
A: No, the Weed software manages transactions and licenses for the files you purchase.
Q: Which portable devices are Weed file compatible?
A: The following portable music players can play Weed files (this list will be updated regularly):
- The Nomad Jukebox
- Jukebox 2
- Jukebox 3
- Nomad Zen USB1.1/1394
- Zen USB 2.0
- NOMAD MuVo2 4GB
- NOMAD MuVo TX
- Creative Zen Portable Media Center
- BENQ Joybee120
- BENQ Joybee125
- iRiver iFP-599T 1 GB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-595T 512MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-395T 512MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-390T 256MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-380T 128MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-340 64MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-195T 512MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-190T 256MB Flash Music Player
- iRiver iFP-180T 128MB Flash Music Player
Q: What about video files?
A: They work, too. If it can be played in Windows Media Player, it can be Weedified.
Q: When will you support Mac and Linux?
A: The Weed software works on Macintosh using a Windows emulator like Virtual PC. Playback quality of Weed files depends on your Windows player software and the system's performance capabilities. Files purchased on a Mac/Windows system are playable on other Windows computers. The native Macintosh version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player does not currently support Weed files.
Both Mac and Linux users are very important to us, and we are currently working on a support solution for both platforms.
Q: How big are Weed files?
A: Anywhere from 3-10 megabytes, but usually more like 4-6 megabytes. They're essentially the same sizes as MP3 files.
Q: Can I get some files to try out?
A: Sure! Each week we publish a Weed Top Ten list right on our front page. You can download any of those tracks and listen to them three times for free. We also have a long list of distributor websites both in the Get Music section of the Weedshare website, and in the Weed software.
A list of distributor websites also is available on our website.
Q: Do I have to be online to listen to a Weed file?
A: The first time you play a Weed file on your computer, the player will go out to the Internet to acquire the appropriate license. So yes, the first time you play the file you'll need to be online. You will also need to be online to purchase the files.
Q: What exactly is Weed? Is it a company, a service, or a software application?
A: Weed is a service that makes it possible for people to share files while respecting artists' rights. The Weed service is delivered by Shared Media Licensing, Inc., which is based in Seattle, Washington.
The Weed service provides:
- The technology that converts standard music files into Weed files (we call it Weedifying).
- A client-side software application called the Weed software. It allows users to purchase and unlock Weed files for unlimited play on up to three computers. You also can burn the file to CD and play it on your stereo system. More details above.
Q: What is Weedshare?
A: Weedshare refers to our global community of Weed users and any online groups or activities that involve our users. The Weedshare community includes a Yahoo! Group, where Weed artists and users promote new Weed songs and share ideas. Distributors have also created their own Weedshare WebRing — a central location for people to find many different sites offering Weed files. You can be a member of the Weedshare community too. Just post a few Weed files on your website for distribution and tell your friends. And of course, our website address is www.weedshare.com because it's all about our users.
Q: So I'm all set up with the Weed software and my account. Now where do I find the music on your website?
A: Although you can find some music files on our site as examples of what our technology can do, Weed does not distribute music. We just provide the service and technology that makes it possible for people to share files and get rewarded for respecting artists' rights.
The actual music files are provided by a growing legion of distributor websites. That's the beautiful thing about Weed. We don't interfere with your sharing activities; we don't hand down edicts on distribution or promotional activities; and we don't set prices. We just provide the technology that makes it possible for you to share files respectfully, and for artists to promote their work wherever and through whomever they choose.
Of course we're not going to pass up an opportunity to promote our distributors, so our website does offer a music guide of distributor websites where you can access and download hundreds of Weed files.
And you don't need to visit our website to find more Weed files. The music guide is always at your fingertips in the Weed software. After you've logged in, just click on the "get more" button at the bottom of the screen. Or run a search on "Weed Files" in any search engine and you'll be surprised by the number of hits you'll come up with.
When you've gotten to the point where you own hundreds of Weed files yourself (and you will), you can build a website and become a distributor (if you want to). When your website is ready, email your URL to us at mailto:info@weedshare.com?subject=WEED INFO: and we'll add your link to the Weed website. You can also increase your visibility on the Internet by exchanging links with other Weed sites and by joining the Weedshare WebRing. WebRing is a free online service that groups websites together in "rings" and links the sites together with a single navigation bar, making it easy to quickly navigate between sites.
Q: Do you have a photo of a girl with headphones on your site?
A: No.
2. Common Artist Questions
Q: What's in it for the artist?
A: Over the last decade, digital technology has significantly reduced the cost of making and recording music. But if you don't have a label behind you, you still face two challenges: getting your recordings heard, and then getting paid for your work.
Lacking thousands of dollars for marketing, promotion and distribution, you have few choices besides selling your CDs at your performances, or giving your music away on the Internet.
Weed offers do-it-yourself, pay-as-you-go promotion and distribution-with minimal up-front cost. When you release your music as Weed files, you can give them away freely, post them on web sites, distribute them on CDs, or share them on a peer-to-peer network. Anybody who receives one of your Weed files can listen to it three times for free. After that, they're asked to buy it—at whatever price you set. And you get 50% on every sale of your artwork.
Weed currently offers a free $5 account balance with every new account. For artists and bands with a following, this provides added incentive: Encourage your fans to open a new Weed account, and we'll give them $5 to buy your music!
Q: That's great! So how do I get my own work converted to Weed files?
A: Consult the Provider's Page, and find yourself an Independent Content Provider (ICP) who will help you through the process. The Provider's role is to set-up a rightsholder account for you, help you verify rights clearance, and then work with you to promote your Weed files (if you'd like).
Once you get your Weed files, you're free to distribute copies of them any way you like. Whenever anyone buys one of your Weed files, you receive 50% of the price.
We currently "Weedify" files free of charge. For a detailed description of how the process works, please read our content submission overview.
Q: Why do I need a Provider? Can't I just Weedify the songs myself?
A: Weed requires content to be submitted in very specific formats, along with signed copies of legal documents. It requires training to do this right, so we train Independent Content Providers for this role. Providers also keep in contact with other Providers around the world to share information, marketing strategies, and technical discoveries.
Q: Can I submit my songs to more than one Provider?
A: While it's easier to work with the same Provider for all of your songs, you are free to spread your music around. The only restriction is the "one Provider per song" rule. This means that if you give a song to one Provider for Weedification, you can't give that same song to another Provider. However, you are welcome to send an album to one Provider, and another album to a different Provider.
Q: I think I have what it takes to be an Independent Content Provider. How do I apply?
A: Weed recruits Providers based on their ability to introduce large amounts of quality content into the system. We have specific technical, marketing, and promotion requirements for these folks. For more information and to apply, visit the Be a Provider page.
Does it cost money to get my songs Weedified?
A: At the moment Weed doesn't charge anyone to Weedify their songs. However, some Weed Providers may charge artists for file hosting, encoding, or maintenance on their sites. Be sure to ask your Provider if there are any fees associated with submitting your music.
Q: What is the difference between an artist and a rightsholder?
A: Artists are the people that make the music. Rightsholders are the people who retain rights to distribute that music. A lot of times this is the same person, particularly if you are creating your own original music and distributing it yourself. If you are signed to a label, then the label is often the rightsholder.
Q: I recorded a killer cover of Revolution #9. Can I get it Weedified?
A: You must own the rights to the music you submit. If you want to get a license to distribute a cover song, either contact the original artist directly for permission, or contact the Harry Fox Agency (they represent about 70% of the music publishers out there) to obtain a license for digital distribution. Their site is located at http://www.harryfox.com/
Q: My song has a brief sample in it, but you can barely hear it. Can I get it Weedified?
A: Again, you need to own the rights to ALL the sounds you submit. If you get clearance by the rightsholder of the sample, then you can go ahead and submit it to your ICP.
3. Weed File Distribution Questions
Q: I'm not an artist, but many of my friends are and I'm a huge fan who would love to promote them. How do I distribute and share their Weed files?
A: Because Weed files are usually 4-6 megabytes, it's best to put your Weed files on a website and send your friends links to the files via email. Sending a Weed file via email is not recommended because many email servers will reject a file that exceeds 1 megabyte in size and the time required to download a large file into an email account can be pretty intense. Besides, it's a lot more fun to share files via your own Weed website and your site can be as simple or as complex as you want.
Q: So I can distribute Weed files on a CD? What happens when people play them?
A: The best way to distribute Weed files on a CD is to purchase them first, then burn them to a CD as data files. Tell your friends to pop that CD into their computer and copy the files to the hard drive. This way they can play them 3 times for free, then purchase them. Best of all, since you bought them first your information will be stamped on the file and you'll get 20% of subsequent sales.
Q: Can an entire album be one giant Weed file?
A: Yep. You can encode the entire thing as one big .wma file and submit it to your Provider for Weedification. Some people recommend that you place markers in the file between tracks so users can search more easily. This is a great solution for concept albums, books on tape, and instructional CDs. You may want to let people know on your website that it will make for a long download, however.
Q: Can I make a playlist of Weed songs?
A: Yes, please do! A Windows Media playlist is a file that controls the sequence of a series of Windows Media audio or video files.
Many people are putting files together with a playlist and bundling the whole thing in a ZIP file. This is great for several reasons: it creates a long and integrated listening experience (just like an album does), it encourages people to buy all of the files (just like an album does), and it makes it easy to burn CDs or transfer the files to portable devices.
Q: Can I share my Weed files over P2P applications like KaZaA and Morpheus?
A: Yes, freely and legally. Heck, you may even make some money without doing much of anything.
Q: Dude - can I set up smokeweed.net and sell Weed files?
A: If you're creating a distribution site and you're thinking about how to name your website or design your look, we'd prefer you avoid using references or imagery suggesting drug use.
We believe in free speech, and we don't want to get in the way of your creativity or encroach on your design efforts. But, we need to reserve the right to request that you limit or discontinue the use of the Weed brand identity if it is not represented in an appropriate fashion.
If your site distributes Weed files or discusses Weed services, or if you create your own website that uses "Weed" as part of the name (for example, Weedfiles.com), it would be best if you don't include graphic images or text passages suggesting marijuana, tobacco, or other drugs.
We specifically recommend avoiding the following:
- designing or using a logo that conveys the likeness of a marijuana plant
- suggestive headlines, copy, or taglines like "be a Weed dealer" or "roll some Weed files" are discouraged
- graphics or images of drug paraphernalia, or people in the act of smoking, growing, or selling drugs
Q: Will Weed files really make more money than if I sell unrestricted files? Will Weed files inhibit secondary distribution?
A: Weed files can make more money and increase secondary distribution at the same time...here's why:
If you aren't offering free previews, Weed files will get many more raw downloads, since users don't have to pay anything to listen to them the first three times. We think this will ultimately lead to more sales since people who like the music and want to support the artists will then pay for it. The Weed software interface is designed to make the process of paying for music as painless as possible, so experienced Weed users will buy with the click of a mouse.
Weed files also generate substantial secondary distribution revenue, which is currently being lost in other unrestricted download models. We believe that secondary distribution helps the artist increase awareness of their music. And with Weed files, you can also earn revenue from the process.
We don't believe that collecting revenue for secondary distribution will inhibit secondary distribution in any way. Just the opposite...our system is designed to support and encourage further distribution, so it's a good thing for musicians in both categories. Artists using Weed to distribute their music will see increased revenue and increased secondary distribution.
Q: This FAQ is great! Can I copy the whole thing and paste it into my distribution site?
A: Since the FAQ changes frequently, we'd rather that you offer a link to this page so your users can get the most up-to-date information.
4. Weed Media Activator questions
Q: I can't open the Weed software, I just get stuck on the screen that says "Connecting", what's wrong?
A: There may be one of these problems.
If you're not connected to the Internet, you will not be able to get past the splash screen of the application.
If you have cookies turned off, you may not be able to get past the splash screen of the application. Weed uses Internet Explorer to display the user interface and it uses cookies to save configuration data on your PC.
Finally, we have found occasional problems with Internet Explorer version 5.x. If you are using version 5.x of IE, upgrading IE to a current version is likely to solve the problem.
Q: I noticed I can scroll the user interface partway out of the Window, is that a feature or a bug?
A: It's a feature. Please enjoy!
5. Payment System questions
Q: Could you explain that again?
A: Okay. Let's say 100 people purchase a song by an artist called Allegro, from a Provider website called Weedworld. The song is priced at $1.00. Immediately 50 cents from each transaction is credited to Allegro's rightsholder account, and 15 cents of each transaction is credited to Weed as a processing fee. The remaining 35 cents is credited to Weedworld the Provider, as they hold the initial three pay slots of 20%, 10%, and 5%.
Now if user Dave, who was one of the initial 100 purchasers, sends the song to user Sarah and she buys it, again 50% goes to the rightsholder and 15% goes to Weed. But this time 20% goes to Dave, and 15% goes to Weedworld. Allegro still gets their 50%.
If Sarah sells it to user Vince and he buys it, 50% goes to the rightsholder, 15% goes to Weed, 20% goes to Sarah, 10% goes to Dave, and 5% goes to Weedworld. After files have been sold three times, Weedworld drops off the list, but Allegro keeps getting its 50%.
Q: Does PayPal charge me a fee every time I buy a song?
A: No. There is no fee to purchase songs using the Weed Media Activator (aside from the price of the song itself). If you want to deposit to or withdraw funds from your Weed account, then you are charged the 50 cent transaction fee. This helps cover the transaction fees that PayPal charges us.
Q: I requested a withdrawal from my account, but it still says "pending." How long does it take?
A: Withdrawals from the Weed system are first approved by a Weed staffer. They are mainly just looking for irregularities or abnormally large amounts. This usually happens the same day you make the request. Once it is approved by Weed it goes to PayPal for approval. They sometimes take a little longer to transfer the money. Give it a few days and if you haven't seen a change send an email to mailto:support@weedshare.com?subject=WEED SUPPORT:.
Q: Why can't I use a credit card to purchase a Weed file or manage my account?
A: All of our transactions are currently processed through PayPal because it offers a centralized account with flexible deposit and withdrawal options.
You can use any major credit card to charge cash to your PayPal account, which can then be transferred into your Weed account. You also can deposit money into your PayPal account from your checking account electronically or by check. (Deposits by check will incur a small additional processing fee.)
When you receive a payment from Weed, you can withdraw the money electronically or by check through PayPal. In addition, the PayPal service is available in five currencies and 38 countries.
6. Technical Questions & Troubleshooting
Q: How do I install Weed Media Activator?
A: Click on the download link at
http://www.weedshare.com/web/download.html.
This link downloads an installation package that does the following:
- First it checks to see if you have the appropriate version (2.0) of Windows Installer. If not, it will download and install the updated version.
- Then the installer downloads the Weed setup application (.MSI) from the website.
- The installer runs the set-up application.
If you already have Weed installed, it will reinstall the current version of Weed.
Q. I'm having problems installing Weed. What can I do to fix things?
A: If you have problems installing Weed, try the following:
- Try downloading the Weed Set-up Application file directly. The Web address is: http://www.weedshare.com/web/weed_setup2.0.1.msi. If you get an error (something other than a download dialog) then check to see if you're having connection problems.
- If you're not having connection problems, try clearing out your Internet Explorer cache. You can do this by going to the Tools menu in IE, going down to Internet Options, then clicking on the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet files section of the General tab. These instructions are for IE 6, but older versions have similar instructions.
Q: I've lost my user name and / or password for the Weed application! What do I do?
A: Contact us at mailto:info@weedshare.com?subject=WEED INFO:.
Q: I'm having trouble logging in and a message on the splash screen said that IE 5.5 might be the cause. What's up with that?
A: On occasion, we've seen connection problems for users who have Windows 2000 and Internet Explorer version 5.5. We are still trying to find out why this happens, but for now the only solution is to upgrade your version of Internet Explorer. If you encounter this problem, please send an email to mailto:support@weedshare.com?subject=WEED SUPPORT: to let us know about it.
Q: The software won't let me enter my email address during set-up. What's wrong?
A: On some non-US keyboard configurations, the Weed software does not recognize the combination of keys necessary to create the "@" symbol. This is a problem because Weed requires a valid email address. This is a bug that will be repaired in the next version of the software.
In the meantime, there are a few ways to fix the problem. You can use the ASCII symbol for @ by typing ALT+320. Or, you can temporarily reset your keyboard to the US English configuration and type "Shift-2" for the "@" symbol. To navigate to the keyboard configuration panel: Start | Settings | Control Panel | Keyboard | Language. Or, you can cut and paste an @ symbol from another application. Or, you can email Weed at mailto:support@weedshare.com?subject=WEED SUPPORT: and request that we create an account for you.
Q: Why do I have to upgrade Windows Media Player?
A: If you are using an older version of Windows Media Player or a compatible player, you may need to upgrade to a more recent version in order to play Weed files. This is because Weed uses a file encryption system that began shipping in 1999. Earlier players will need to be upgraded.
Q: Someone told me the MIME types on my server are incorrect, and they couldn't download my Weed files. What do I do?
A: MIME types tell the player what types of files it can support. If the MIME types are set up incorrectly on your Web server, it may be more difficult for fans to experience music from your website. The official MIME Type Table for Microsoft media files is here:
There's a table of all the mime types of interest to Weed users - and then some. Please note, you SHOULD include the ASF type as it is the base for WMA.
Q: What is re-licensing?
A: If you lose your Windows media licenses, you won't be able to play your Weed files. But once you have purchased a title, you're entitled to play it on three PCs. Therefore, Weed allows you to "re-license" a title you've already purchased. To do this, simply go through the standard purchasing sequence.
You will be informed that you have already purchased the file in question and will be asked if you wish to re-license at no cost. This will unlock previously purchased titles without a current license on your computer.
Q: If I download and re-license a file I've already purchased, where do the payments go?
A: When you re-license a file, all of the commission slots are set to whatever they were when you first licensed the file. Or to put it another way, you cannot change a file's ancestry by downloading it from a new source and re-licensing it.
Q: What if my hard drive dies? Do I just lose all of my Weed files?
It's pretty simple to acquire a new license, since Weed keeps track of what you've bought. In your Weed software, if you click to buy a song you've already bought, you'll get a dialog window saying that you already own the track. It will then ask if you need to acquire a new license. This would also be the case if your drive crashed and you had to re-download the tunes you already bought.
If it's a hard drive loss (as opposed to a license store failure), the trick will be finding all your files again. There will be a record of all of them in history, so if you can find the file on any Weed distribution site you will be able to re-license it. But there is no guarantee that you will always be able to find a new copy so back up your Weed files from time to time. Same goes for the license store.
Q: I've just replaced my computer. In fact this is the fourth computer I've owned since I bought some of my Weed files and now I can't play my files anymore. My other computers were wiped and reformatted. What do I do?
A: Email us at mailto:info@weedshare.com?subject=WEED INFO: and we'll take care of it for you.
Q: Can a "dead" file be unlocked without paying for it by downloading it again? Can a dead file be shared with another user who can then play it three times before that copy locks?
A: Any Weed file can travel anywhere by any means of transmission and will behave properly when it arrives at a new destination. When a Weed file is played three times on a given PC, however, it expires and becomes "dead" on that PC until it is purchased using the Weed software. Downloading a new version of the file won't revive it. But once you buy it, it revives and will play forever on that PC.
A user can successfully distribute files that are dead (and therefore unpurchased) but if the recipient purchases that file, the distributor payment reverts to the last person in the chain who purchased the file before giving it to you. In other words, if you don't buy the file, you can still share it but you won't earn payments on that file.
Q: I tried to play a file using WinAmp and a thousand browser windows popped up, what's up with that?
A: This is a rare, but very annoying bug. We have not been able to establish the cause. Some users find that opening Weed files in Win Amp can cause so many browser windows to pop open that the only option is to shut down the PC.
Even if you do not experience this problem, Weed files do not play properly on Win Amp, even though Win Amp is said to be fully compliant with Windows Media DRM.
We are working to improve the situation. In the meantime, we recommend using Windows Media Player, RealPlayer or Music Match Jukebox.
Q: I did a Windows update and now I can't play any new files, what's wrong?
A: There is a specific Windows update, number KB828026, which has shown an ability to damage the Windows Media license store. When this happens, the Weed 1st-play and 4th-play dialogs will fail to load properly and Weed files won't play. The solution for this rare problem is to delete your license store, let Windows Media generate a new one, and re-license your Weed files at no cost.
This process can be tricky, and we encourage you to email us at mailto:support@weedshare.com?subject=WEED SUPPORT: for assistance.
Q: What information do you keep track of?
A: Your transaction history is stored locally and updated from the server. Your user name is stored locally, but not your password. Check out our Privacy Policy for more details.
Q: How does Weed know when to let a file play and when not to?
A: Whenever you request a license, the request contains a unique ID for your PC. This is used to determine if you've requested a license before, and this determines if you will be granted a free license for 3 plays.
Q: What is individualization?
A: Individualization is a process that allows Windows Media Player to create the strongest possible encryption. The encryption keys generated by an individualized player are based on a unique value stored on your PC during the individualization process and will work only on your PC and no other. This provides maximum security for Weed files. Only Microsoft can access the individualization value, unless you specifically allow other 3rd parties to access it. Weed does not access this value.
Q: Can't I just hack the files?
A: It would be illegal to do so, but it would also be self-defeating. When you buy a Weed file that you have sampled 3 times, you know you're getting a good deal on music you like. In addition, you're free to share it, transfer it to a portable device, or burn it to CD. Almost anything you do to hack Weed files will result in a reduction of quality - plus it rips off musicians and the friends that shared the file with you in the first place.
Q: Why do you use DRM?
A: When you buy a Weed file, you need to be confident that you can resell it for money. If there wasn't a mechanism insuring that this is likely to happen, the whole system would fall apart. Weed uses Windows Media DRM to accomplish this.
