iTunes loophole found, fixed and then re-opened

Written by James Delahunty @ 23 Mar 2005 1:50 User comments (14)

I am sure most of you have heard by now about a program called PyMusique that allowed users to purchase music from the iTunes music store from any platform (iTunes itself currently supports only Mac and Windows platforms) and without the dreaded DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection. It is important to point out that the program only allows you to purchase songs without DRM; it does not allow you to steal any songs from the iTunes store. However Apple was quick to plug the hole and boast about their victory to the media.

However, Apple weren't as quick as one man. Jon Lech Johansen (or DVD Jon as he is known ever since he got involved with developing DeCSS which made ripping your DVDs possible) now claims he has re-opened the iTunes loophole and now with an updated version of PyMusique users can once again download using other platforms (any computer that runs Python and a few libraries, including the Gtk and crypto modules) and avoid the DRM protection.

The ability to download DRM-free music legally is every fair use activist’s aim. The Recording Industry and some of the big boys in the digital download market including Apple claim that DRM protection is essential to protect the music from mass-piracy. However, this protection leaves users feeling too limited with their music. Apple has also been accused of using iTunes and its DRM protection to force users to buy iPods if they want their music on a portable audio player.

Source:
The Register

<Anti-piracy group says firms may be paying too much for software >Blu-ray step ahead of HD-DVD

14 user comments

123.3.2005 03:14

venomX05

Send private message to this user

Senior Member

Quote:
However, Apple weren't as quick as one man. Jon Lech Johansen

Damn straight! Show em how it's done. This story right here, just goes to show you that big business may THINK they have the upper hand, yet, it only takes ONE person to really put the smack down on them. I like this comment, and found it hilarious:

Quote:
However Apple was quick to plug the hole and boast about their victory to the media.

Guess they weren't really too fast, huh? Oh this personal favorite:

Quote:
Apple has also been accused of using iTunes and its DRM protection to force users to buy iPods if they want their music on a portable audio player.

Now GEE WHIZ, you don't say!!!!! LOL!

223.3.2005 07:23

mystic

Send private message to this user

Member

Ive seen my students (at the High School Level) take a song from I tunes drop it to the net work transfre it to another machine and then use windows media player to open and burn it one of the other tricks is to play it through real player and add it to their library and then burn a cd...... so if the kids have figured it out it cant be that hard to do... apple is still without secure messures....

323.3.2005 08:15

Dela

Send private message to this user

Staff Member

@venomX05 - Why did you show that quote as second - "However Apple was quick to plug the hole and boast about their victory to the media" - when it actually came BEFORE your first quote - "However, Apple weren't as quick as one man. Jon Lech Johansen" - the whole point if you look back over the story is that I was poking fun at Apple for their earlier comments. Oh and as for "Now GEE WHIZ, you don't say!!!!!" - I'm not quite sure if you were just being funny or being sarcastic, but let me explain why I wrote that comment... - http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/5932.cfm - in most news stories you read, the last lines of the story often mention other bad situations for the company/product and in this case this is the best of the massive amount of legal troubls that have hit Apple recently that I could pick because using DVD Jon's software u could purchase DRM-free music and play it on many more portable players instead of the just the iPod - maybe the main reason why it bothers Apple so much? If your comments were just being funny, then fine, sorry for explaining myself!

423.3.2005 08:24

futureod

Send private message to this user

Newbie

Ok...the easiest way to deal with these issues is (and avoid being forced to buy an iPod; which IMHO are one of the best portable music devices around) to burn the AAC to a disc, and just before ejecting the disc, re-import the items in .mp3 format and allow it to overwrite the AAC file upon importing. You now have a DRM-Free file. I know the whole point would be to get one [DRM-Free file]in the first place, but that wont happen. Lets get off the problem and work on the fix :-) Peace, Jimmi-James

523.3.2005 08:30

venomX05

Send private message to this user

Senior Member

Whoops! Yeah, I noticed that I went 2 steps forward and mixed up the comments. My bad. As far as being sarcastic, yeah, I definately was...but what I am about to say next is why. I didn't know you actually wrote those articles. It was never about being sarcastic to you. I actually thought that you just got the articles from a really good source. I had no idea that YOU personally wrote them. I guess I didn't really read the part when it was "by Dela." I just figured it was by you but not neccessarily BY YOU, if that makes any sense. Now granted I should have check the link below where the source came from, but figured it was the same thing as you have been writing up on aD. It was nothing against, you...and if it got to you, sorry about that. :) Oh yeah, and the last comment...I just found that funny, I was being sarcastic, but not towards you but towards the fact that it is mentioned that:

Quote:
Apple has also been accused of using iTunes and its DRM protection to force users to buy iPods if they want their music on a portable audio player.

Now that I didn't know till today, to be honest, I never really heard of anything like that until today, with the exceptions of the other stories about Apple that I have read over the last couple of weeks. So, in closure...if I did offend you, sorry about that it definately was nothing against you. You don't have to apologize, it was a simple misunderstanding, I honestly didn't know and wasn't trying to be rude to you or anything.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Mar 2005 @ 8:36

623.3.2005 08:31

Dela

Send private message to this user

Staff Member

yep that method works, there's also software to simply record MP3 files from the DRM files - basically like recording songs from the radio - no idea how the quality is when its done though!

723.3.2005 08:33

Dela

Send private message to this user

Staff Member

@venomX05, no problem mate, if you ever see any mess ups in nws articles let me know though, i dont mind feedback!

823.3.2005 08:37

venomX05

Send private message to this user

Senior Member

Please if anything, there should be more news articles...can't mention how many times I check back to see what new stories are out to....ahem....comment on. There are definately informative, and I hope you keep up the great work!

923.3.2005 08:38

swarmpack

Send private message to this user

Member

you dont need to buy a ipod to get your songs that you buy from itunes to a mp3 player or whatever you download windows media player 10 and take your burnt disc from itunes and burn it to your libiary then onto your mp3 player.

1023.3.2005 08:43

Dela

Send private message to this user

Staff Member

@swarmpack - yep that method works, but I would suggest trying some other software for ripping the audio, something that uses the LAME MP3 encode would produce quite nice quality! @venomX05 - ye sorry abou he lack of new news for the past sweek been busy with "real-life stuff" but usually I aim to get all the bes news of the day on the site.

1123.3.2005 08:53

restrec

Send private message to this user

Newbie

Sorry guys, I might not be in the right forum but I couldn't find an appropriate one from the forum list for the following situation: My son was given a list of websites were he can supposedly download free music with no harm risk for his computer. They are: www.tightbitz.com www.soundclick.com and bearsharelite.com Two questions:1) are they safe or not ? 2)Please give me just 2 addresses of sites where I can download music for him, which are affordable and safe to submit my Credit card. Thank-you for your help.

1223.3.2005 09:15

venomX05

Send private message to this user

Senior Member

Whoa restrec, Tall order you gotta fill! Anywho, I think this might help you out... http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/144925 This is the Filesharing Forum, if I wear you I would start here, cause there is some research you got to do, because everyone has a different opinion. As far as the websites go...for free...I am not sure about that one, but if you want, try mp3lizard.com

Quote:
1) are they safe or not ?

With P2P's it all depends on what you go with. Because everyone says something different and has personal preference. But these are just my personal opinions.

Quote:
2)Please give me just 2 addresses of sites where I can download music for him, which are affordable and safe to submit my Credit card.

Yeah, I would like to know this myself, just for future reference. Hope this helps you with what you are looking for.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Mar 2005 @ 9:19

1323.3.2005 14:29

jacsac

Send private message to this user

Member

For everyone out there supporting Apple because they thought they were looking out for your interests think again. It really chaps my ass that they would specifically manipulate music to monopolize their market dominance. I hate Apple more than Microshaft because they are wolves in sheeps' clothing. @dela- You do a helluva job bringing pertinent information to the community. Keep it up!

1423.3.2005 14:49

venomX05

Send private message to this user

Senior Member

Quote:
It really chaps my ass that they would specifically manipulate music to monopolize their market dominance.

Now you know, I didn't EVEN think about this, till I read the article about the domain name in the UK. I am SHOCKED and appauled! LOL!

Comments have been disabled for this article.

	VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31) VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times. 1 user comment
	Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09) Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier. 8 user comments
	Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19) Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
	Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38) Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028. 5 user comments
	How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25) The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. .... 18 user comments

	GUIDE: Wi-Fi speeds are slow? Here are some tips Having problems with Wi-Fi speed and stability at home? Here are some tips to follow to alleviate the issues. 1 user comment
	HOWTO: Boot Android device into Safe Mode Are you having trouble with your Android device? If you find that your device has become sluggish, is freezing, takes too long to boot or any of a host of other performance concerns, you may want to boot into Safe Mode.
	Guide: Is Your Wi-Fi Sluggish or Slow? Here's How to Fix Do you have problems with you Wi-Fi? Slow connection or is it cutting off constantly? This guide aims to remedy these problems. 1 user comment
	Guide: Phone battery drains quickly - how to fix (iPhone / Android) In this guide, we go through the most typical reasons for rapid battery drain with phones, and look at potential reasons or solutions.
	HOWTO: Install Netflix App on rooted Android device 'This app is no longer compatible with your device. Contact the developers for more info.' If you are getting this message from Google Play when trying to install Netflix, then maybe this little guide can help you.

iTunes loophole found, fixed and then re-opened

14 user comments

Latest news

Reviews

Guides

News archive

Subscribe

Sections:

Follow us:

	Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
	Review: Samsung Jet Bot 90 AI+ - a high-end robot vacuum cleaner Samsung's Jet Bot 90 AI+ is a top-class robot vacuum cleaner that can avoid obstacles and empty its own dust container. Here we review the product. 1 user comment
	Samsung Jet Bot 80+ review - excellent robot vacuum cleaner We review Samsung's Jet Bot 80+ robot vacuum cleaner over a period of three months. 1 user comment