What is the point? Really? Burn your AAC files to an audio CD, then rip them off the CD into unrestricted MP3 format. Use them as you like. No fuss, no muss.

Apple has made it extremely easy to transfer your music into the format you want. The only outcome of this ill conceived idea is that our current level of freedom will be rescinded by the introduction of stronger DRM.

So, again, what is the point?

I can't see Apple giving up that revenue stream.

It's neat to see how this stuff works, but it would also be sad if, sucessfully hacked, the iTunes music store was ruined, everybody pulled out and went home and we were left with no legal alternative to p2p. It would be nice to have a way for artists to get paid for their works.

Just a thought.

Edited by author 06-28-2003 04:48 PM
This guy's work presents some fascinating problems. At what point does an academic discussion become a DMCA violation? Is every person commenting also liable or is just the guy doing the work? Is Cory liable for linking to it?

It doesn't sound like he has ulterior motives besides figuring out how the DRM works. He's not looking for free music, he's found a puzzle and wants to figure out how the puzzle went together. But I could see Apple getting very antsy about his work, no matter how academic it is, when he uncovers any solution to the puzzle.

I'm sure it's also in Apple's financial interest to go after work like this, because I bet their deals with the music labels require their DRM is uncompromised.

What I find ironic is this DMCA threat is inhibiting the development of sharper engineering skills in the computer community.

This will prove counter-productive in the long run.

When engineering is outlawed, only outlaws will be engineering.

Under current law (DMCA) isn't it illegal to do even what he's done so far? It's probably illegal for you to be reading about it too. :-)

This is interesting stuff. However, I'm a bit worried that at some point in the future he might actually figure out how to break the DRM and incur great wrath from The Lawyers, and possibly even precipitate a more-aggressive DRM scheme.

That would suck for everyone.