FreeMarketplace is a proof-of-concept app, this app allows the user to download and install free of charge any app on the Marketplace for Windows Phone 7. These apps on the Marketplace are protected by DRMs, Freemarketplace take this protection and removes it thus allowing apps to be downloaded and used without charge.

The raw installation packages or “XAP” files could be downloaded freely shortly after the phone platform hit the market. The Zune client downloads XML files with the package locations for the purpose of enabling application installation and browsing, XAPs and XML are both served without restriction. The XAPs allow the compiled code to be examined by anyone and even though this poses a reverse engineering risk, it didn’t enable piracy right away. On the XDA-developers forum a guide was released a few days ago of how to modify these XAPs and allow it to deploy and run. The post came and went and the forum admins even deleted it, but even so, this made it clear that developers were searching for ways to work around the DRM and pirate the apps.

One developer who was inspired by this and wanted to find a way to force Microsoft to address these problems with protection. In a claim by the developer, it took him just 6 hours to develop an app that modified XAPs in a way that allowed them to be deployed or rather an app that allows piracy off any and all apps on the Marketplace. The developer has yet to release the app or to go into detail about how it works because his reason for developing the app was to bring to light a problem, and not to promote piracy.

Microsoft has been successful in courting developers and providing a lucrative atmosphere for development. The Marketplace has hit 5,000 apps recently and support continues to grow even with the question of how many people are actually using the platform looming overhead. But even with all the growth and positive reactions, the threat of piracy is sure to make some developers second-guess the decision to target the platform. On the bright side of things, even with abundant piracy on the iPhone and Android the platforms still remain a very attractive to developers thanks to the number of users.

The response from Microsoft to the earlier discovery of the XAPs having the ability to be downloaded has been a little on the disappointing side. Microsoft recommended the use of obstruction software, which was briefly available as a free download, but this solution is hardly a solid fix. And now that its been proven that XAPs can be used for piracy, it is expected that a stronger response to be on the way. What do you think Microsofts response will be this time or do you think it will be more-so a band-aid rather than a full on remedy?

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[Source: XDA-Forums]

Authors: V_Geek

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