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iTunes DRM-Free Files Contain Personal Info
r2k writes "Apple's iTunes Plus files are DRM-free, but sharing the files on P2P networks may be an extremely bad idea. A report published by CNet highlights the fact that the account information and email address of the iTunes account holder is hidden inside each and every DRM-free download. I checked, and I found I couldn't access the information using an ID3 tag editor, but using Notepad I found my email address stored inside the audio file itself."
You can see the info within iTunes.
Get Info on the Song/Video/Etc
Then go to the Summary Tab, Second column.
This has been the case for AGES
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1871173.ece
Or at least for about a year and a half, I think slashdot reported on it then, too.
the account information and email address of the iTunes account holder is hidden inside each and every DRM-free download
How is this "hidden"? If you select an audio file purchased from the iTunes Store (with or without DRM), and go to File->Get Info, you'll see the following fields in the summary:
Purchased by:
Account Name:
Purchase Date:
Apple's not trying to hide anything here.
Converting from AAC to MP3 is lossy.
This came up when they introduced iTunes plus ages ago. It's been discussed back then. Yes, the info is there. You can simply look it up, no problem. Your ID3-Tag-Editor might not be able to chanxge it since we're not talking MP3 here. That's it.
Just use a different editor, clean out the information and start the copyrightinfringement-frenzy you seem to have been waiting for for so long. Oh no, you already do that, I guess.
Or, if you don't like finding an editor that can delete the info, just go to a record store and steal the CD.
The English is fine, just not the information!
Like many places, Spanish law has exemptions for private use, which probably makes removing DRM completely legal. However the owners are allowed to make copies only for private usage, with collective and lucrative uses not allowed. Sharing on P2P would definitely constitute a collective use.
Although as with almost everywhere else, P2P itself is not illegal.
Converting to MP3 is lossy, regardless of the source format.
It's clear. A certain percentage of slashdotters act all surprised every time it's repeated though. Of course, most /.'ers also act all surprised every time some wack-job blames video games for violence too. At least some people are pointing out that the account information has been part of iTunes files for forever and isn't news to most people who know how to do a Google search.
Sure, so long as they make it abundantly clear that this is what they're up to.
Choose any iTunes plus song, and select "get info" from the main menu. On the left side of the "Summary" pane, you'll see "Purchased By", "Account Name", and "Purchase Date". IIRC, those were there on the DRM versions too.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."