do whatever you want with their music: copy, rip, convert, etc. and put a dollar in an envelope and send it to them. That's way more than they make from a single CD.

doesn't care about DRM. Sure, they act like they do, but it's all sound and fury. All that mp3 money goes to the RIAA; they just do what it takes to appease them in order to sell their hardware (ipods & accessories).

my primary use pc is running os/2. I only have windows installed for bs like this, where I have to run a windows based program to get something done that I could do in os/2 if people werent such lamers and require you to run proprietary software just to download something. :) Guess they are boycottiung os/2 so I will boycott apple :) *shrugs and giggles then goies to take his candy of muych fun that the doctor gave him to take in massive doses * heheheh

Why is this person and his software being singled out when it was possible to convert the copy protected file to standard MP3 well before this?

Why would anyone buy DRM-crippled media of any form? I can get any and all music I want from the newsgroups. Apple could sell old shoes and the Mac-maniacs would pay top dollar for the privilege.

O.k....so if I re-rip my iTunes downloads into MP3s using the CD software with iTunes, it is technically an illegal mp3? "IF" someone wanted to bust me for my "illegal" mp3s on my hard drive, wouldn't the billing and purchase history technically hold up in court? What if you keep the DRM files with the mp3 files? Couldn't that be a "backup"? If you compare with DVDs that are encrypted, you can own a backup as long as you have the origianl and don't throw it out to others right? I'm not really too worried about it. I just wanted to make a point. I DJ the music I download from iTunes with Final Scratch. Final Scratch has a iTunes import function. I use v1.5 (haven't upgraded to 2 yet) and it doesn't even support ACC let alone decrypt the DRM encoded files in realtime to DJ with. So Final Scratch Encourages illegal iTunes music use? Surely they can't think I'm using iTunes just for ir's library engine?

They killed it already. No binary downloads. Oh well who gives a shiznit about itunes? We've got DOSENS of other channels that we can EASILY download releases of music, movies, software, etc.. most of the time before they're even released to the general public... Why won't these scumbags just GIVE UP and make their money honestly?

It's totally retarded I mean artists make millions upon millions upon MILLIONS of dollars, record companies make 10x what the artists make even with the huge "piracy" level now. All this while most "average" people struggle to pay the rent keep their financial lives balanced on what puny paychecks they get. Now you tell me piracy is not fair. Not fair to WHOM? Give. Me. A. Break. Penn & Teller do a show on this in their famous "Bullsh*t" series on Showtime!

Screw all digital rights management. Screw RIAA/MPAA forever. Screw Apple for attempting to think they could hold an iron grip on something that should be totally free. Matter fact, screw paying for anything except food and clothes EVER again! Screw the whole world economy muuuh hahahahahahahahahahaha :: mad scientist laugh ::

It is just a crime that all what is moving in this business are rewarded with such a high revenue on a record. The Same in the sports world, movie stars etc. I can't see the point why for example a movie star should earn 10 million bucks for one screen play... A soccer player walking away with a couple of millions and much more for playing a game... Sick very sick and world wide you see more and more people opening their eyes and wondering why you have to pay such a lot of money for one record. Good that production companies feel the breath in their neck of the customer. I would say push further bring them on their knees!

I think its great that someone finally did this. DRM is just a huge pain in the a** for me. Can't use Nero and instead have to use the crappy apple burning software. Very lame and sounds very much like how MS got in trouble for forcing you to use IE. Finally I can use the songs I paid for just as easily as the ones I got for free.

Apple is just going to block this program; I bet it will be dead within a few days. They'll probably take this guy to court whiel they are at it. So what was the point again?

Sure it was a technical achievement, but what he did does not improve your rights as an itunes user at all. If you break the drm, you have illegal music which you have paid for- the worst of all possible situations. If you want illegal songs, why pay for them? The above also applies to anyone who burns cds and rerips them- read the license.
If you want freedom, boycott DRM services- and if you really want freedom boycott paying for any software or music.

well put :-)

Well said Carmad!

Umm...Well said? Don't pay ANYTHING for music or software at all? If I was a software designer and I had a wife and kids to support, I'd tell you to take a long walk off a short bridge.

I think you mean... Pier as apposed to bridge... hehe :o) But good point.

You are missing the point. They are abusing DRM. People are breaking the law to make changes to the music to allow them more flexible after they purchase DRM embedded in music. They now have an illegal copy and might as well have downloaded it illegally in the first place. This is the effect on the consumer end.

If I were a software developer and had a wife and kids, I'd have a paying job and go to http://sourceforge.net too.

MAESTRO... If you had wife and kids and bringing home say a 100 million bucks a year... with just a little effort... Ever heard about the difference between NEED and GREED?

Indo, what planet do you live on where every software writer is making 100 million dollars. For that matter, the guy who lives next door to me is ina band and barely scratch together rent.

So yes, I understand the difference between need and greed. But how about you go outside and see the real world instead of the one you see on TV?

If you've paid for the music, I fail to see how it's "illegal" just because you don't have the DRM.

I don't share it on filesharing networks, and I don't sell it. That's what the RIAA is worried about.

I don't use Itunes. I use other networks, such as Napster, Wal-Mart, and Musicmatch.

I buy the songs I want, burn them, and then copy the songs onto my hard drive. MP3s play immediately. I've noticed an annoying delay with DRM embedded music. again... I've purchased the music legally. My purchase history can assure you of that.

Just because you don't have DRM embedded in your song files doesn't make them illegal. Think again.

>>if you've paid for the music, I fail to see how
>>it's "illegal" just because you don't have the DRM.

>>Just because you don't have DRM embedded in your
>>song files doesn't make them illegal. Think again.

All I have to say is read the license. If you were an itunes user, the result is you've paid, and what you have is illegal music. If you disagree, read the license again!

Here's a quote if you like:
"You agree that you will not attempt to, or encourage or assist any other person to, circumvent or modify any security technology or software that is part of the Service or used to administer the Usage Rules."

LOL!!! Why would I use Apple's crap they call software anyway?

The only thing this tells me is just one more reason to stay away from Apple.

that Apple may sue this guy. That statement doesn't make me an Apple employee, and I'm not a hippie. The MPAA got DVDXCopy pulled from the shelves. Isn't Johansen the same guy that created the DeCSS program?

I love programs that allow me to make fair use of files/programs I have purchased. Especially FREE programs, like DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink. I personally don't play much with MP3s, but that might change if I ever get a car stereo that plays them. So I think I'll just do a download later tonight....

I think they're wasting their time making DRM. WTF is the point of having it if you can just re-record it through the audio card or merely connect the lineout to linein and record off linein. TCPA would be the place for DRM but they've still got a lot to prove as far as privacy and "usefulness" to the public it will have.

apple is the world's worst, and most arrogantly marketed and useless o/s, so who cares what happens to their (cr) appleware?

sue the crap out of this guy.

people like you need to walk in front of a train you tree huggin hippy

i should sue the crap out of you for insulting people that dont like DRM

I think hippies would be for this sort of thing, so you are probably not one. Either way, I refuse to get music unless it is DRM free. Know those pepsi bottles that say "win 1 free song?" I just toss those too.
I have become more interested in independant artists, they get a bigger slice of the pie and often don't mind about "file sharing."

Haha. Obvious RIAA employee.

What is it that you want to do with songs that you can't do with iTunes? You can burn them directly to CD, and then rip them back from that CD to MP3 right? Isn't then the DRM stripped? Additionally, what is wrong with DRM in general? Are you just upset because someone in this world actually wants to make money? Or are you just saying that the only time you should pay for music is when it is in concert so the band gets more money? Sorry to say, but the music biz wouldn't be where it is without labels...

If you want to use someone elses talent without paying for it (i.e. downloading free music) then why should your company pay you a salary for yours? Why can't they just say "hey, just give it to me because I don't feel like paying for it"...

If you don't think 99% of those independent artists you so love wouldn't take a fat contract and then turn around and want to protect their music from being spread for free around the internet then you are insane. Remember, bands never HAVE TO sign a contract, they CHOOSE to sign a contract. The terms of the deal may be stiff, but my guess is they'd rather take a small cut from downloads and sales rather than spreading their music around the globe for free.

Did u complain when you bought your first DVD player and found out you couldn't copy the DVD to tape?
And then you did you decide "No More DVD's" and just start watching home movies with no protection?

I doubt it.

I'll gladly take those free song codes off your hands :)

"What is it that you want to do with songs that you can't do with iTunes? You can burn them directly to CD, and then rip them back from that CD to MP3 right? Isn't then the DRM stripped? "

I don't think you understand.

First of all, as soon as you do that you will lose additional audio quality from a source that ALREADY is lossy and thus of lesser quality than the CD. We won't even get into the discussion of how charging someone more for a product of lesser quality than he / she can get it in the stores is blatant theft and a con job besides.

Oh no, we won't because you won't want to go there.

Secondly, I paid for it. It's mine to do with as I see fit. End of discussion - move along.

It's called "fair use" and I take it extremely unkindly when a governemnt or a greedy organization says I can't do as I like with that which *I* paid for.

Fortunately, some countries aren't ruled by greedy special interest lobbies, a parasitic and self-serving entertainment industry or politicians and courts in the pay of same. There are places that actually still respect the concept of fair use and respects the rights of its citizens. I daresay that if Apple tried to sue up here in Canada, they'd be laughed out of court AND chastized for wasting the court's time to boot.

Johansen is a hero for consumer rights - period.

Oh, and as an aside:

A hooker takes a smaller cut than what she makes from her pimp too. From where I'm sitting and by YOUR admission, the labels are a step below those panderers.

Maestr0 said

"Did u complain when you bought your first DVD player and found out you couldn't copy the DVD to tape?
And then you did you decide "No More DVD's" and just start watching home movies with no protection?"

NOPE I FIGURED OUT A WAY TO COPY IT, PROTECTION WILL ALWAYS BE BROKEN.

I'm not against the concept of DRM, but I am against how it is currently being used. Apple is using it as a propriatory tool to force you to play music that you PURCHASE from them through their own iTunes software. If I want to play that music file(s) that I now OWN using Windows Media Player (or other player), I can't do so without jumping through hoops.

I don't have to go through this with a CD that I purchase so why am I being punished for legally purchasing music through their online store? I gave up on purchasing music from iTunes. I just buy the CD used from Amazon now at a lower price than what I would find on iTunes.

I do pay for my music. I'm not a criminal. But the way these companies are using DRM, they sure do treat me like one.

well, i haven't bought or went out to see a movie for about a year now, except for the other day I bought I Heart Huckabees. To answer your question, yeah, It sucked that I couldn't record dvd to cassette, even playing it in the computer DVD-ROM. BUT I notice that if you use DVD-Decrypter to first decrypt the movie, then mplayerclassic to play the decrypted movie, hook up the computer to the vcr, it will record just fine.

Let me know of any independant actors/actresses/movies and I will check them out too. It's ok, I'll allow you to admit that you can't compare movies to music very easily. It is not as hard for 1 person to create a cd as it is for one person to create a movie. Also movies take more space than music, making it that much harder. Maybe I will get a video camera soon and release some stuff: comedy skits and such.

I don't know where they stand now, but it used to be that you could make copies of your music/movies/games for personal backup, which I do back up my music cds. Seems with DRM they don't want you to have backups either.

And i would gladly not contribue to this crap, which is why the caps end up in the garbage. Maybe i will guess a bunch of codes and make people pissed that they cannot get their song, since their code was already used as a guess.

FYI, It is impractical to live without money, so yes, I must have a paying job. Outside of the job, I do give my services out for free/cheap. What do I call cheap? I put together a computer for someone - she payed nearly $1,500 for the computer, printer, monitor, camera and what not. I charged her only $50. I ended up paying a computer tech $40 cause I couldn't figure something out. I didn't even tell her that that had happend, nor ask for more money. I spent several hours into this computer with a $10 profit. Making someone happy for favor is the true value.

I hate when people take the "people helping people" idea and turning it to "i'll 'help' you, depends on what is it worth to you?" concept. Must we turn everything into a business? This turns people from happy helpers to an "i dont need you, so why should i help you"

Do you charge someone that is broken down on the side of the road, just to give them a ride somewhere in your direction? I sure hope not, but YOU just might. Doing this sort of thing creates a chain reaction - next time you need help and are short on cash, it just might hit you where it hurts. Maybe I will start charging people when I give them jump-starts.

The only criminals I see here are the record companies who charge unreasonablyu for their wares - and have for several decades.

Consider this:

You buy a CD. it's copy protected. You can't rip it for oyur player. So what do they want you to do? Download it AND PAY AGAIN FOR THE SAME MERCHANDISE, ONLY DISHING OUT MORE FOR LESSER QUALITY MATERIAL. And guess what - THOSE DOWNLOADS ARE COPY PROTECTED TOO.

To the RIAA / MPAA I say the following:

If you can't use the tool properly and fairly, we'll take it away from you. We, your customers AKA "The Only Reason For Your Miserable Existance" aren't willing to put up with your nonsense any longer and *quite obviously* some of us have the power and the will to take your repressive little toys away and are doing *exactly that*. You can never win - we're too diverse and there's too many of us. Take a lesson or suffer the consequences.

I highly doubt you figured out a way to break the copy protection since you dont even know how to turn off your caps lock.

Most of the true Independent artists wouldn't jump onto a "fat contract" as you put it. There are truly some bands out there, playing the music just for the music. Not everyone is after money.

The mass's have spoken very "loudly" I think it's indeed ignorent
to ignore their demands as they are the bread & butter. Fair use is
fair for all is it not??? BoyCott DRM & Hitler type control let freedom
be forever. Hitler controled the nazi's just like these people want to
do in america they want to control what we eat,say, & go. NAZI AMERICA is
amoung us now and it's only going to get worse. I must say to you all
BoyCott all forms of Hitlerish or Nazism Control. DRM is just a bad form of
control gone bad. Not letting the people use what they buy the way they want
to use it. What they are trying to do can not work and it won't let the havok begin.

Then buy your CDs and let everyone else do what they want. This is a free society where you can pay $1 for a song, or go waste $15 on an entire CD for that one song.

I am not saying you are wrong for buying CDs, I am just choosing to pay for single songs. This whole argument is absurd anyway because now we have people comparing DRM to Hitler. If you have ever been to Germany and examined the history or seen a concentration camp then you would be ashamed of yourself for making the comparison. Out of respect I will not comment further on the subject.

And please lets compare apples to apples at least. Downloading a song illegally because you don't want to pay for it is entirely different than helping someone on the side of the road. If I were ever helped I would offer the person something in return out of gratitude. I appreciate the artists who make music so I pay for their songs.

The whole point of the issue, aside from whether or not you like DRM or not, is that a crime has been committed here. You don't break into a car and disable the alarm system so you can drive it home without paying for it and then part it out to your friends do you?

> Then buy your CDs and let everyone else do what
> they want. This is a free society where you can
> pay $1 for a song, or go waste $15 on an entire CD
> for that one song.

or.. you can download that 1 song for free and say fuq the greedy proletariat pinko bastages :)

> The whole point of the issue, aside from whether
> or not you like DRM or not, is that a crime has
> been committed here.

yes, the crime is the rape of the consumer

being a "tree hugging hippie" I take offense to the conbtext of this remark. "Tree hugging hippies" believe in peace, love, freedom and most of all peaceful coexistance with the land and the people around you. we also believe that people should be allowed to do as they wish as long as they dont hurt the land and other people.

:)
peace out strung_way_too_tight_corporate_lackey :)

The masses have spoken loudly? Is that why over a million songs are downloaded from iTunes daily?

Very well put, Aaron.