Apple's iTunes DRM Cracked?

joekra writes "The author of DeCSS is back in the spotlight with a new application called QTFairUse. The new application attempts to convert DRM'd AACs to non-DRM'd AACs on Windows machines. MacRumors has done some limited testing on it and has found it doesn't yet work as advertised... but they do offer a look into how it works."

Comments

Re:I don't know about this

[horza]

Apple has been pretty liberal with their protected aac files compared to some other digital music retailers. Play on up to 3 computers, burn to cd, play on iPod.

It's still DRMed.

I've bought about 250-300 songs from iTMS and have never been inconvenienced by their DRM.

You've found a service you find reasonable priced and easy to use. That's good news.

Do you think their DRM being cracked might change any of this?

No. Anyone that wants music with no DRM will just download it off Kazaa, etc.

I can just imagine the RIAA trying to use this as an excuse to implement some sort of draconian measures.

When have they ever needed an excuse?

For years now people have been screaming for fair online digital distribution.

And the music industry decided to ignore the people and try and sue anyone that tried to implement anything reasonable. So they got exactly what they deserved. I've very little sympathy.

We finally get something that works well and is fair on both sides and some jackass cracks it.

Just because you like something doesn't mean you speak for everybody. For instance, not a single Linux user can use the service.

I sort of feel like next time the RIAA dupes some ignorant senator into introducing some insane bill that completely infringes on our rights we're not going to have a leg to stand on.

That kind of panic isn't very helpful. You should debate each bill on its merits.

Apple gave people what they asked for, then got shit on. What does everyone else think?

I think that Apple isn't the benevolent benefactor to mankind you make out, and they really want to sell more iPods.

Phillip.

Predicting the results of this

[FredFnord]

1) The program is perfected, so that you end up with a simple, easy-to-use way to remove DRM.

The people are happy, and basically everything from iTunes shows up on the free music channels almost instantly.

2) Apple is forced to sue him under this, and use the much-hated DMCA to do so, because otherwise the record labels will simply shut down the iTMS.

Everyone starts on a huge 'I hate Apple' rampage, blind to the fact that the only other course is for Apple to just close the iTMS.

3) Apple changes the DRM in the iTMS to something more secure. The jury is still quite out on whether it would be more obnoxiously intrusive or not, but if it wasn't, it would almost certainly end up being hacked very quickly as well. (If it was, it would probably just take a little longer.)

Everyone gets really mad at Apple for this, too, no matter where on the spectrum of intrusiveness it actually is.

It's great... Apple has absolutely no choice in the matter, so we can beat up on them *in advance*! Let the hate-fest begin!

-fred

Cool!

[t0ny]

Hopefully this will lead to people being able to convert quicktime movies into much better formats, especially ones which dont involve having to install QuickTime.

Re:Way to go

[/dev/trash]

well duh. Just like the "War Protests" that are staffed by anti-capitalists that would be prtesting no matter what.

Don't be that guy, they guy that gets his cause co-opted by some fringe group.