EA allows SecuROM de-authorisation

EA has released a de-authorisation tool for its controversial SecuROM digital rights management system.

SecuROM-protected games only allow installation on up to five PCs. Although this is not being changed, the new tool allows users to de-authorise particular machines on the list, thus freeing up "slots" for new installations on other computers.

In fact, de-authorisation needs to be done with game-specific tools, but EA has also made a de-authorisation management tool available. This will show all EA PC games released after May 2008 that are installed on a users machine, and tell the user how many computer authorisations are available for each.

De-authorisation doesn't uninstall the game, so it can be re-activated later if a free slot is available.

Affected games include Spore, Mirror's Edge, Mass Effect, Burnout Paradise, Dead Space and Red Alert 3.