Current Content Rights

All the tracks that you download from Rhapsody, whether they are purchased or not, include specific content rights and are copy protected. Music is sent to your computer as secure digital music files, and you are granted the digital content rights for the files via a Digital Rights Management (DRM

) system when the files are downloaded.

The content rights you receive are determined by the music companies and by your level of membership. These can include, among other uses, the right to burn the track to a CD, or transfer the track to a portable player or device.

Rights can also affect playlists. For example, you can burn any particular playlist up to seven (7) times.

Click a header to learn more about current content rights.

What is the difference between "Buy" and "Buy MP3"?

Why "current" content rights?

Content rights can change over time for non-purchased songs. Tracks that you can download without purchasing or even just stream, may not be available at a later date if the artist or studio changes the rights. If this happens, affected tracks in My Library will revert to 30-second samples or be grayed out as unavailable. These rights may be restored at a later date if the artist or studio allow them to be.

Note: Secure Rhapsody music files can be used only with Rhapsody or RealPlayer.

What happens with content rights and re-downloading?

Because the content rights for secure music are granted during the download from Rhapsody, you will need to download separate copies onto each authorized computer you use. (See Downloading for more information.) You can download each purchased track up to three (3) times without additional charge.

How do I renew content rights for downloaded tracks and Channels?

When you purchase a Rhapsody track, you are granted the content rights for that file indefinitely. However, when you download a Rhapsody track, you are "renting" the content rights for a period of 30 days.

In order to renew the content rights for downloaded tracks on your computer, sign in to your Rhapsody account at least once every 30 days.

To renew the content rights for downloaded subscription tracks and Rhapsody Channels you have transferred to your portable player or device, simply connect your portable device to your computer while Rhapsody is running (and your Rhapsody membership is current) at least once every 30 days.

The same is true of your Rhapsody Channels. To keep your Rhapsody Channels available and updated with fresh content, just sign in to your Rhapsody account at least once per month.

What are "membership tracks?"

Streamed Rhapsody tracks and downloaded (but not purchased) Rhapsody tracks are "membership" tracks. You can play them as long as you have a paid Rhapsody membership. If you choose to end your paid Rhapsody membership, any streamed and downloaded Rhapsody tracks in your Library will no longer be playable.

Any Rhapsody tracks that you purchased, however, are yours to keep.