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DVD Jon opens up Apple's Fairplay

2 October 2006 12:41 by Ben "Lethal_B" Reid | 6 comments

According to GigaOm.Com, Jon Lech Johansen, also known as 'DVD Jon', has discovered a way to to reverse engineer Apple's FairPlay DRM technology. Johansen is now attempting to license the technology to companies that want their content (music, movies, etc) to play on Apple devices.

Along with hacking partner Monique Farantzos, Johansen has reportedly already approached Apple chief Steve Jobs about the technology. Jobs is alleged to have told the pair in response that Apple would not pursue legal action, however he is said to of warned them that other companies might not take to their motives so kindly.

The latest hack of Johansen and Farantzos, who operate under the name DoubleTwist Ventures, does not actually remove DRM from files, but instead adds another layer on top of what already exists. It is in this layer that the technology lies which enables songs from music services other than iTunes to play on an iPod.

Although this could affect sales at Apple's own iTunes Store in a negative way, it could, however, be a plus for iPod sales.

Some believe that it's for this reason that Apple hasn't reacted aggressively thus far. But Apple is no stranger to taking legal action, especially with regards to its intellectual property, so many believe that a legal response from Apple is a strong possibility in the foreseeable future.

Source:
GigaOM.Com

Permalink to this article

doubleTwist synchronizes media across devices (19 February 2008)

DVD Jon to work with Michael Robertson (20 October 2005)

DVD Jon unlocks encrypted NSC files (5 September 2005)

Jon Johansen writes patch for Google Video Viewer (29 June 2005)

Jon Johansen�s PlayFair decrypter for Apple iTunes (6 April 2004)

DVD-Jon demands compensation (27 January 2004)

DVD Jon will not return to court (5 January 2004)

DVD-Jon not guilty -- yet again (22 December 2003)

DeCSS trial ends in Norway (11 December 2003)

DVD Jon pleads not guilty (2 December 2003)

DVD Jon goes to trial again (1 December 2003)

DeCSS Johansen goes back to court (2 March 2003)

Johansen will have to face the appeals court (20 January 2003)

Johansen denies charges (9 December 2002)

"DeCSS" Johansen goes to court (6 December 2002)

2600 withdraws DeCSS appeal (4 July 2002)

DeCSS history lesson for Norwegian authorities (11 January 2002)

DeCSS author might face 2 years in prison (10 January 2002)

DeCSS Author Arrested? (25 January 2000)

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Discuss this article!
sukhvail (Senior Member) 2 October 2006 13:25
im surprised he actually approached apple with something like that. i hope that this gets released pretty soon. i doubt anyone can step in because they are not messing with any of the DRM or any intellectual property of another company, but merely adding another layer on top. [ + quote]
antomic (Member) 2 October 2006 17:59
the apple guys are cool. they didn't sue. [ + quote]
PeaInAPod (AfterDawn Addict) 2 October 2006 18:09
Good thing DVD Jon doesn't live in France! [ + quote]
TheJoxter (Newbie) 2 October 2006 18:11
Truly Peapod, truly. Something tells me there'll still be trouble over this though. [ + quote]
oofRome (Senior Member) 2 October 2006 20:14
Has anyone actually wondered how much it would cost to fill up a 30 gb ipod with legally downloaded music from itunes? So has Apple. They realize how rediculous it is as well. [ + quote]
gogochar (Senior Member) 3 October 2006 10:02
Go get 'em Jon. [ + quote]