A trio of independent programmers has released new software that allows people to tap into Apple Computer’s iTunes music store and purchase songs free of any anticopying protections.
Joined by Jon Johansen, the Norwegian programmer responsible for distributing DVD-cracking code in late 1999, the programmers say their “PyMusique” software is a “fair” interface for iTunes, primarily aimed at allowing people who use the Linux operating system to purchase music from Apple’s store.
But with a Windows version of the software also available, it’s likely to trigger a legal response from Apple, which has closely guarded access to its online music store and has depended on its copy-protection software to gain rights to sell music online.
In an interview late Friday, one of the program’s creators, 17-year-old Pennsylvania high school student Cody Brocious, said the ability to save songs without copy protection was essentially an accident derived from the way Apple’s system downloads songs. He said the software wasn’t intended to harm Apple.
“The intent of the project was to be able to purchase files from the iTunes Music Store,” Brocious said. “I believe very firmly that the project is ethical and does nothing but good for the community at large.”
Apple representatives had no immediate comment on the software.
I bet Apples’ lawyers will have a comment pretty soon. -KF
Source: ZDNet
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