iTunes/QuickTime DRM Scheme Disabled
The same fellow who created DeCSS has now created a program that dumps DRM AAC files into non-DRM AAC files.
I have mixed feelings about this. I like the fact that it allows me to take care of legal requirements myself (which I would still obey if I used it) instead of Apple doing it for me — it has always made me uncomfortable that company's are basically saying “yes, we've sold you this song [or something else] but we don't trust you enough to properly use what we've sold you, so we are going to make sure you use it a certain way and sue the pants off of you if you don't use it that way.” At the same time, I wonder if this isn't a big mistake.
If a fairly respectable (is there such a thing?) DRM scheme like that used by iTunes is broken into, the MPAA/RIAA have even more of a case to argue that either (1) tougher legislation is required to stop thosenasty people that clearly want to use this for pirating purposes (indeed, many probably will) or (2) that the Secure Computing Initiativemust be sped up to make it so that hardware prevents people from doingthings like this. While I'd prefer no DRM, I wonder if in the long term this won't lead to worse DRM. No matter what, the law abiding citizens will get hurt while the companies go after the non-law abiding ones that make DRM attractive in the first place.
As I've said before, I think I should be able to do — so long as I follow copyright law — whatever I please with a file I've legally bought or obtained. If I pay $.99 for a song, I should be able to do absolutely anything to it on my computer (since that doesn't in any way cause a loss of value to the copyright holder — I'm still the only person with a copy).
On the flip side however, while I believe that such freedom shouldexist, I realize that iTunes Music Store could possibly serve to cause the inevitable expansion of DRM to at least be a lot more friendly that it might otherwise be. While the idealist in me appreciates someone providing more freedom to me for my legally held music, the practical side of me realizes that such a gain in the short-term will quite likely hurt the promotion of friendly DRM schemes in the future.
So what do you think?
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RE: iTunes/QuickTime DRM Scheme Disabled
I’m rather partial to holding a chunk of plastic in my hand that proves I have the right to the music. What happens when I want to let a friend borrow a portion of my collection? What if I want to sell my collection to someone else? I’m really leary about the whole concept that this builds. Seems like there is room for improvement, but it isn’t possible to get it perfect.
Perhaps these folks need to take a hint from the security field, “there is no completely secure computer” and so there is no completely secure media. If they want to be in the business of selling music, part of that is dealing with people who abuse the sale. If you make it impossible for a user to use the product honestly, then you are going to lose the sale entirely and the theives are still going to take it from you illegally just as they did before. Basically, you lose business, not gain it.
RE: iTunes/QuickTime DRM Scheme Disabled
There are no good answers here. I thing the recording industry has made more enemies than friends, I for one have bought very few CD in the past couple years. Just a few select artists.
All these protection measures show that they don’t trust the consumer, and that’s a pretty sad state.
I have yet to use the iTunes store, but I am still curious about it. I just need to make sure I purchase it on a machine that I want to listen to it on.