RealNetworks has unveiled an initiative called "Helix," featuring media tools that understand Microsoft Windows Media formats via a clean-room reverse engineering implementation -- rather than licensing from Microsoft. Further, they've committed to releasing large portions of the system under an Open Source license through their HelixCommunity site.

Hmm, if there's open-source Windows Media creation and/or playback software out-and-about... it doesn't seem like artificial DRM locks on individual Windows Media files could survive for vary long.