Apple FairPlay DRM Cracked, QTFairUse6 Creates DRM-free Files from iTunes 6
Software capable of stripping the copyright-protection technology from files played in some of the latest versions of Apple iTunes is circulating the Web, about two weeks after the release of a similar tool for Microsoft's Windows Media player.
FairUse4WM removes the Digital Rights Management (DRM) from Windows Media files. There are a number of checks in the DRM systemto prevent it from being used to abet piracy, making sure you're only using it to 'free' your files for your own personal use. Also of note is that it only cracks DRM one song at a time, further thwarting potential piracy.
On the other hand, QTFairUse6 was posted for download on the Hymn bulletin board used by developers and technology enthusiasts. The tool requires some knowledge of Python code. It is not as easy to use as FairUse4WM, but both applications accomplish the same thing: breaking the digital rights management technology in the respective media files.
The QTFairUse6 application supports iTunes versions 6.0.4 to 6.0.5 and uses Apple's music and video player in the DRM-stripping process. Apple was not immediately available for comment, but it's a fair bet that the company will tweak its DRM technology to prevent the hack.
Microsoft has released a Windows Media patch to prevent FairUse4WM from removing the music and video player's copyright protection technology.
The new utility posted to Doom9.org completely threatens that model because anyone can sign up for a month's subscription and download a ton of music and remove the Windows Media DRM protection. Existing members who don't necessarily want to download more music but want to continue listening to their existing subscription library will also be able to strip the DRM protection and stop their subscriptions.
This could have disastrous consequences on Napster and Yahoo subscription music services and it casts doubt on Microsoft's ability to provide DRM to the music companies.
"We have an update to address the circumvention and are working with our partners to deploy this solution," Marcus Matthias, senior product manager for the Windows Client Division, said in an e-mailed statement. The new tool works only on music files containing DRM technology from versions 10 and 11 of Windows Media player. The application can only work on one file at a time.
