Apple Sends Cease-and-Desist To the Hymn Project

Troed writes "Tools for removing DRM from iTunes-purchased songs (myFairTunes7, QtFairUse6) have been available from the Hymn Project Web site for some time. These are legal in many countries. But on the 20th Apple sent a Cease and Desist note to Hymn's ISP, forcing the site admins to remove all download links. It is speculated that this is due to a new tool being created (Requiem) that attacks Apple's FairPlay DRM through cryptographic means instead of by copying the unprotected music from memory while it is being played. But since the tools are no longer available (after several days there are still no public mirrors), discussion around this topic has died out. Many users buy music from the iTunes store and rely on DRM removal to be able to play the content on their mobile phones. Apple may be on dangerous ground here, since those users might now start checking out competing services."

Comments

Why bother with the iTunes Store anymore?

[CSMatt]

Why does anyone still shop at the iTunes Store for music if they want DRM-free songs? Just use Amazon.

Cease and Desist *Letter* not *Order*

[Tiger4]

A C&D letter is no more than a nasty letter from a lawyer asking (no matter how it is worded) you to quit doing something his client doesn't like. In other words, really expensive toilet paper.

A C&D ORDER on the other hand, comes from a court and you'd better do what it says or risk pissing off the judge. Almost always a bad idea.

In any case, a C&D Letter can be responded to by a letter of your own back to the sender requesting "clarification", setting off a torrent ( :-) ) of correspondence that could level a forest while consuming time as you continue to do as you please. Or you could just use it to pre-emptively go to court and threaten the sender with attempting to interfere with your business/life/whatever by harassing you. And you will have the letter/evidence in hand, signed by the sender.

And of course, in the greatest of Slashdot Traditions, IANAL.