Windows app cracks iTMS v6 DRM
JHymn users might remember that iTunes 6 broke the DRM-stripping tool, and it seems that Apple's done a good job of keeping FairPlay locked down - until someone cooked up QTFairUse6 for Windows. Yes, it's a Windows app, but it can apparently strip purchases from iTMS version 6.0.4 and above of their constraining DRM. QTFairUse6 isn't pretty either - it's a python script that involves some tinkering, but this might be good news to those who believe that if you love something, you should set it free.[via Engadget]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Rickert said 10:32AM on 9-01-2006
I think that its also important to note that it does it in real time and looses all the ID3 tags.
that means it is slllloooooowwwwwww.
Don't plan on using this to convert all your music purchases because it'll take days.
You're better off using audio hijack to grab the audio from iTunes and re-encode as an mp3 or AAC
Reply
Bruce Anderson said 11:01AM on 9-01-2006
You're better off buying the CD and making your own MP3s or AACs. 100% DRM-free from the get-go.
Reply
Cloggin said 11:06AM on 9-01-2006
They'll always find a way. The kids, the developers, whatever, someone will always find a way not to have to pay for other people's work. Unfortunately, the time put into developing this python script and whatever other tools people are coming up with, would be better spent in a $10/hour job that would move than cover the cost of whatever that song is they don't want to pay for.
Figures.
Reply
Furbe said 11:10AM on 9-01-2006
Mark Rickert, that's nonsense. This software grabs the decrypted AAC frames out of memory as iTunes is playing and writes them to a file before the decoding process. That means there's no lossy recompression. If you're doing it in realtime with something like Audio Hijack, it takes forever anyway AND you're introducing a second lossy compression step. In the end, if your ID3 tags are more important to you than maintaining what modicum of audio quality there is in an iTunes purchase, then your method makes some sort of sense, I suppose. Otherwise, just retype the ID3 tag. Not that hard.
Reply
Todd said 11:16AM on 9-01-2006
"They'll always find a way. The kids, the developers, whatever, someone will always find a way not to have to pay for other people's work. Unfortunately, the time put into developing this python script and whatever other tools people are coming up with, would be better spent in a $10/hour job that would move than cover the cost of whatever that song is they don't want to pay for." -Cloggin
Looks like you don't understand what this does Cloggin. It removes the DRM from a file purchased from the iTunes store. So you first have to purchase from the iTunes store and then remove the DRM. Get with it. This is a tool to give control of a purchased product back to the consumer.
Reply
Marcos said 11:22AM on 9-01-2006
If it's a Python script, doesn't that mean that it isn't a Windows app?
Disclaimer: I haven't actually looked at it.
Reply
Frank said 11:38AM on 9-01-2006
Version 2.0 will convert your whole library automatically (or, one at a time). It also will retain all tag/artwork info.
Reply
John S. said 12:00PM on 9-01-2006
Sure Todd. And nobody's going to share those tracks with their friends.
Reply
Ed said 12:19PM on 9-01-2006
Someone will always manage to get a copy of a track to share - it only takes one person to get past the DRM/copy a CD etc to distribute it to anyone in the world who wants it. As such, DRM is not going to prevent infringment unless it is 100% reliable across all mediums. So, in the end it just limits what the consumer can do.
Reply
Cloggin said 12:29PM on 9-01-2006
Todd - I take my python script over to my buddies house - strip the DRM off of all his files, then copy the files for myself, and head on home. That was the point. It makes more sense for someone to buy the song than go to all that trouble of writing the script. Thanks for your input, though.
Reply
ChillyWilly said 12:33PM on 9-01-2006
Todd said it best. This is a tool to help those of us that do purchase iTunes music, allowing us to use the music without the DRM restriction.
Why is that important? Backups are more flexible, the files can be used on more than just the iPod (other devices that play AAC) and it makes it possible to burn more than just a few CDs. A lot of the CD-Rs I have get thrown around a lot and scratched up pretty quick and I like being able to know I can burn as many as I need to.
Music is going to get pirated, regardless, but most of the P2P is higher bit rates than the 128k iTunes songs are encoded in. I really don't think there's a ton of people out there that use tools like this and jhymn that are uploading their entire collection to the web.
I personally am happy to have such options that allow me to use my music the way I want to. My only hope is that this is the first step towards a better solution... more like how jhymn works under iTunes 5.x now.
Reply
nezromatron said 1:08PM on 9-01-2006
All DRM does is keep honest people honest while limiting what they can do with music they PAID for. You can find higher quality encoded audio on torrents/usenet/etc. DRM will never stop piracy because piracy is a social issue not a technical one. Also all DRM will be cracked eventually because at one point or another in the process of playback, the source data is open and viewable.
iTMS won't get a penny from me until the DRM is gone. I will not be treated like a criminal when the real pirates enjoy un-protected music in higher quality.
Reply
mick129 said 1:38PM on 9-01-2006
@ 10: Sure, you could use this to copy a friend's music, but it would be a lot faster and easier to just download them of a P2P network. This tool is more about giving control to the people who paid for the music...
Reply
Stephen said 2:52PM on 9-01-2006
If it doesn't have ID3 tags and does it in real time then why not just use a sound card recorder?
Reply
Tony said 3:50PM on 9-01-2006
Todd.
Stop spreading FUD. Everything you said is completely and utterly false. Verifyably so. I won't bother schooling you, because if you haven't listened by now, you probably never will.
Reply
Tony said 3:55PM on 9-01-2006
By Todd, I meant specifically post #14.
Reply
Mark Rickert said 4:39PM on 9-01-2006
Furbe (post #4)
please see http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/01/mytunes-the-simplified-itunes-drm-stripper-for-windows/
or the related post here at TUAW.
This script DOES do it in real time and looses the metadata in the file.
Reply
Todd said 8:47PM on 9-01-2006
You people that think this is all about piracy make me sick. What happens when Apple goes out of business or stops making iPods or you decide you don't want an iPod anymore and instead want some other type of player?
I'll tell you what - your files are all locked up and you can start rebuying them in another format. When you buy a product, you should have control over it.
Also, the genius that mentioned going over to a friend's house and copying their files needs to brush up on his knowledge of fair use. It is within my fair use rights to share content that I have bought with friends. Now go cook in the hot place.
Reply
Todd said 8:50PM on 9-01-2006
Tony, it's much easier to say, "You're spreading FUD." than actually refuting an argument - isn't it? If I buy a trunk from you and it's got a rusty lock on it, who are you to tell me that I can't knock that lock off with a hammer? I bought the trunk, it's mine to do with as I please. If I want to take the garbage you attached to it off, that is my right as a consumer.
Excuse me for wanting control over the products I purchase. I hope you burn in hell.
Reply
Tony said 1:48AM on 9-05-2006
Todd,
Well, your post (which used to be post #14), so it'll be difficult to refute it at this point. Looks like it's already been "refuted" by whoever deleted it.
Nothing you said in that now deleted comment was true. It was FUD.
Reply