SingStar's DRM is broken and needs to be fixed

by Jem Alexander { Sep 16th 2008 at 8:00PM }

So says Infinite Bits. While it may sound unlikely, this Infinite Bits writer (who long-time readers of PS3 Fanboy might recognise), had his PS3 sadly croak and had to redownload all his content again on his backup PS3. Not a huge deal, the PSN allows you to download content on up to five PS3s, right? Right. Except for SingStar. In fact, the DRM on that game is so restrictive that, short of opening another master account and rebuying the songs, there's no way of getting them back. Ever.

SingStar songs can only be grabbed once. If you lose it because your PS3 dies, ~~or accidentally delete the file~~, you're pretty much screwed. The SingStore will think you already have it and won't allow any more downloads, or even purchases (should you be willing to pay again for the priviledge). You don't need us to tell you that this is flawed and broken and definitely needs fixing. SingStar's DLC is great, in terms of both quality and quantity, but suffers majorly from this single flaw. Make enough noise and hopefully this can be changed by the time SingStar Volume 3 comes out.

Tags: drm, infinite-bits, london-studio, scee, singstar

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

The_Black_Circle @ Sep 16th 2008 8:11PM

Until an official statement by Sony i'll assume ths is a RUMOUR.
Has anybody else actually experienced this problem or tested it?
It seems to be a reactionary peice on SPORES DRM issues if anything.
Singstar PS3 has been out for a few years now in the UK and this info surfaces now? Pretty coincedental IMO.

clif @ Sep 16th 2008 10:40PM

my ps3 died, i just haven't played this game since... i'll let you know.

Cory @ Sep 16th 2008 11:15PM

this has been an issue since the game first released. Its rather annoying. I have 2 PS3s one at my moms house and the one i own. I typically for games like Rockband use the same account so i dont have to buy songs twice but with singstar i'm screwed.

Though a bigger issue is when the hell are they going to release a good american update. Most of the updates have been full of European songs i never heard of or care to listen to.

clif @ Sep 17th 2008 12:09AM

the songs i purchased and downloaded are still there... (well there again) before i sent my ps3 off to be replaced i was able to do a back up and reset. i can't say what would have happened if i wasn't able to back up and reset the old ps3.

Martxc @ Sep 16th 2008 8:13PM

I replaced my 60gb harddrive with a 250gb Harddrive.
I didnt backup anything and I just redownload my content again.I had no problem redownloading my singstar songs that I purchased.

Jogurt @ Sep 16th 2008 8:19PM

My PS3 croaked and it let me redownload the songs no problem. Just have to do it in game like the first time around.

Robert @ Sep 16th 2008 8:18PM

It is true that the DRM only allows downloading of songs to one physical PS3. Its stated clearly in the usage rights before purchasing.
Since this differs from almost all other Sony content on the PSN, this is unfortunate and hopefully will be changed as it definitely is a pain if your PS3 dies.
Saying you can no longer get the songs back (ever) is incorrect, though. My 60 gig PS3 died a month ago and I got it replaced by Sony with a different PS3. Of course, the DLC for Singtar did not work. I gave Sony a call and the first level of support understood my issue and submitted a ticket. They resolved the issue within a week (they took down my information, confirmed my downloads, then told me it would take up to 7 days to link the purchases to the serial number of the new PS3). It took them 5 days in my case, but I was able to download all the songs again.

Robert @ Sep 16th 2008 8:30PM

Also, if you accidentally delete it, you can still download it to the same PS3 (its linked to the serial number). This is why changing hard drives doesn't matter, either. Its when you change PS3's where you'll have to contact Sony Support to transfer the licenses.

Robert @ Sep 16th 2008 8:25PM

Also, if you accidentally delete songs, you can still download it to the same PS3, since its linked to the PS3 serial number. This is why changing hard drives isn't an issue either. If you were to change PS3's, though, you'd have to contact Sony support to move the licenses over.

Just @ Sep 16th 2008 9:17PM

I think you are limited to 5 re-download as stated in the in-game help. Never tried it 5 time myself...

Reckoning @ Sep 16th 2008 10:30PM

Thanks for bringing this to the light. I emailed this site awhile back with my fiasco. Hopefully this gets people to notice and get something changed.

Kspraydad @ Sep 16th 2008 8:44PM

The BIGGER issue is video store purchases....only ONE download even if it is to the SAME machine.

From a PSN FAQ:

Q: If I purchase a movie will I be able to delete it from my HDD and download it at another time?

A: Once the Video Content has been downloaded from PSN, you will not be able to download it again for any reason without purchase of another copy.

Dr. Strangepork @ Sep 16th 2008 8:45PM

"SingStar's DLC is great, in terms of both quality and quantity"

You must have a different version than I have.

kevin @ Sep 16th 2008 9:26PM

dlc dude
not on the disk itself

Dr. Strangepork @ Sep 16th 2008 10:01PM

That's what I meant. The Store leaves a lot to be desired as far as content and quality.

Mana Knight @ Sep 16th 2008 11:33PM

They are talking about the U.K. They get many great songs we do not by Pink, Queen, etc. Their store is perfectly fine. U.S. store is ok.

iamkid @ Sep 16th 2008 9:08PM

question regarding this for anyone who wants to help me:

how are you able to download something on another console, anyway? ive tried logging onto my friends ps3, but it says i can only log on on mine. so how would i log in on a new ps3 to redownload stuff(just in case i ever need to)? thanks for the help

hurricane @ Sep 16th 2008 9:45PM

You would need to log out of your PS3 first.

matthew_neitzer @ Sep 16th 2008 11:19PM

Make a new account on your friends PS3 and choose to use an existing account. Enter your info, and you're done. Sign in and access all your downloads, and download them to his PS3.

Zimon @ Sep 16th 2008 9:36PM

What Robert is saying is the truth. While the DRM is broken for Singstar, a call to the support center will solve the issue. It's not a big problem.

zimon_kun@hotmail.com @ Sep 17th 2008 6:30AM

Iamkid: You need to create a new User on your friend's PS3 (far to the left in the XMB-menu). Then hit Sign up to PSN but this time press "I already have an account". Enter your email and password and you're done.

Deaddy @ Sep 16th 2008 9:49PM

Great DLC? Are you crazy? SingStore is garbage, both in terms of quality and quantity.

Richie_Tozier @ Sep 16th 2008 10:06PM

Why did Collin and Nick stop making posts here?

gib2504 @ Sep 17th 2008 11:20AM

I recently got robbed, and I phoned sony and they took my new ps3 details and 5 days later i was able to download the songs again so I don't see what the problem is really

whistlepig @ Sep 17th 2008 12:10AM

yes singstar songs are able to be downloaded as many times as you want on your ps3 . you can change the hard drive as many times as you want and redownload the songs just fine BUT if you change ps3's you can not download the songs again and if you try it will give you a message saying so . the songs are tied to your systems serial number and are not logged by the psn store where you can go and redownload other things like rockband songs and games you purchased before . my launch 60 died just last month and bought a new one and have not been able to download em again but not to worried cause im sending in the old ps3 to get repaired

Gex @ Sep 17th 2008 12:17AM

Wow, that is seriously messed up! I don't have SingStar and now I definitely don't plan on buying it.

brian Waszkowski @ Sep 17th 2008 1:43AM

My ps3 died and sony sent me a new one and at first i couldn't dl my songs from the store. So i called and they gave me the singstar people and i told them what happen and they fixed it and i was able to redownload my songs within 7days after calling..

JimmyHawkin @ Sep 17th 2008 2:47AM

Well people I can say for Europe or / Nordic Users this aint a problem. Cant speak for the rest of the world. But i for example reinstalled my Ps3 with a new Harddrive. And installed Linux on one partition and Ps3 software on the other. And by that KILLED all the singstar songs. AND I COULD DOWNLOAD THEM ALL AGAIN! all of my 160 song that i buyd online. I REPEAT IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM TO DOWNLOAD SONGS AGAIN!
what you need to do is go to your History and download them again. The songs are binded to your acount. So it will se if you have buyd them. And it will check if its on the Hd. If its not on the Hd it lets you download it again.

SO I suggest you Remove this post cause its just aint true... and i find it hard to see that it would be diffrent for the rest of the world :)

whistlepig @ Sep 17th 2008 9:16AM

YES YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON THE SAME PS3 over n over again . get another ps3 and YOU CANT god read some forums or buy another ps3 and try it . IT WILL NOT WORK .

Craig Earl @ Sep 17th 2008 3:19AM

Guess what I won't be buying anymore until the problem gets fixed. Looks like anything I do buy from Singstar will be on a disc. Fix it or looks like all my money continues to go to Rock Band suckers!

Dlaf42 @ Sep 17th 2008 7:06AM

what Robert said is true i had 2 60gigs break and both times i called sont and had them sort it out in 7 days....the last time when i called they said they were going to change the way the tracks a linked to your ps3 and make so they were linked to you ps3 id not machine serial code

shizimu @ Sep 17th 2008 4:08AM

This is rubbish. Yes the tracks lock to your hardware, all you have to do is call Sony, spend about 3-4 mins on the phone with them and within 24 hours you get your tracks back.

shyloc @ Sep 17th 2008 6:45PM

Had this exact problem myself, i downloaded 3 songs off the store on a prrvious ps3 that died, tried to redownload them on mt new p3sn i couldn't. nor could i rebuy them. so thats 3 songs i'll never have on my singstar ever again, untill this is fixed

Leigh Bartram @ Sep 17th 2008 6:41AM

Yes this is 100% true i had my ps3 pack up on me i had brought over £50 worth of songs and my partner is a huge fan we have brought more but things like alice cooper poison (which was on old console) it say please goto purchase history when you get there it says this has already been downloaded on another system so we have lost 50 songs which we will never get back unless this is sorted when i rang the number in the back of the box and told the rep he said there is nothing anyone can do they just lock to one system!
As i said i still buy from singstore as my partner is big fan but was a little dissapointed when this happened.

JaffaBoy @ Sep 17th 2008 4:29AM

I SO wish people would read comments before posting...

If you replace the hard disk then it's ok

If you replace the actual PS3 unit then it's not!!

However, come on guys.... Sony WILL allow you to move songs from one PS3 to another if you go through their support line. Bit of a hassle but at least it can get resolved.

Try that with Apple... friend had a *LOT* of hassle trying to get their iTunes purchases back again

PepticBurrito @ Sep 17th 2008 5:09AM

This is an inherent problem with DRM. You do not "own" the files, you are paying a one time rent payment. The moment you want to do something with the files outside the desires of the company that supposedly sold them to you, you are told you are thief and that you should do that. Just say no to all DRM in all it's forms. Let it fail

Tokume @ Sep 17th 2008 6:56AM

Sorry, DRM needs fixing? Since when did it NOT need fixing...?

OK, for the actual topic:
Its a shame that users have to go through the hassle of contacting support and the while nine yards. They (Singstar) really should implement a better system...

whistlepig @ Sep 17th 2008 9:19AM

also it doesnt matter how many times you change your hard drive . change it 200 times if ya want and you can still download em . the songs are tied to the ps3 not your account like other stuff you buy from the psn store . if your going to post something and call someone a liar make sure you have tried what is being talked about

mcmanic @ Sep 18th 2008 2:18AM

lol at news, utter rubbish, all you got to do to get your songs back is to phone Sony who will refund the cash amount for your singstar songs for your new console or replacement. I know this personally is correct as i know a few people who have done this on my main forum i vist everyday. Those complaining must have phone phobia or something.

Moose @ Nov 11th 2008 8:32AM

Hi All, I have experienced this. I bought loads of songs, then exchanged my PS3 and now I cannot download them on the new one. Could anyone who has managed to resolve this please post the phone number that I need to ring to get the licence transferred to my new PS3. Many thanks in advance.