A member of Winfuture.de and ms IT Systembuilder let me know, he made a version of the Windows Media Player 9 without the DRM functions and includes the newest Hotfix...

read more for Source...

Here a shortcut of Olcays article:
Who doesn't know the DRM (digital Rights Management)? We built a Version of the WMP9 (Windows Media Player 9 - Build 2980) for you where DRM is removed and the new Patch (Q816044) is included!. Like always in German and English.

Link