You are here: silicon.com > Software > Security Strategy

Security Strategy

Apple's proprietary DRM cracked

iTunes for all?

Tags: dvd jon, apple itunes music store steve jobs ipod digital music, ipod, apple

By Will Sturgeon

Published: 25 October 2006 12:50 GMT

Apple's proprietary DRM technology may have survived allegations of anti-competitiveness and even government attempts at intervention in the past two years but it seems one software engineer has found a way to crack the iTunes code.

Tracks downloaded from iTunes have to date only worked on Apple's iPod music players, and rivals and consumers have called for change, branding this relationship anti-competitive.

Now Jon Lech Johansen - better known as DVD Jon - is widely reported to have reverse-engineered his way under the skin of Apple's FairPlay DRM.

A spokeswoman for Apple said the company has "no comment at this time".

In March 2005 Johansen found a security hole in Apple's iTunes program which allowed music to be downloaded stripped of its copy protection. And although Apple closed that hole, within days Johansen had opened up iTunes once again, this time for Linux users.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Clive Longbottom Windows 7: Not perfect - but ready for prime time Microsoft's latest OS fixes most of Vista's ills - but still has challenges ahead

Stephen Kleynhans Mind the details with Windows 7 Just because it might work better than Vista, it doesn't mean you can be sloppy


  • Jobs
Signal Processing Engineer - Music Metadata Management, Broadcasting, C, C++; Cambridge (Homeworking), to 40k

They are currently engaged in research and development to engineer efficiencies around the music reporting workflow by automating the processes ...

Web Manager, Music / Radio / Television - London

Web Manager, Music / Radio / Television - London If you like Music and are looking for a Fun, Funky, Friendly environment then this is the place for ...

Operations Solution Architect

Mobile IP; Content Protection (DRM, Watermarking); IP Geo Mapping; Network technology; Compression; Content Delivery Networks (CDN); Streaming ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: