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31 May 2007
Users are claiming that Apple's new DRM-free iTunes Plus offering secretly records customer details.
Media reports suggest that the DRM-free song files collect and store the iTunes account information of the users who purchased the titles.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog reported that Mac users can see the collected data by viewing the files in Apple's terminal application.
The site claimed that pulling up the song data reveals the first and last name of the buyer, along with the email address which serves as a user ID.
Other users have reported that the data can be viewed simply by selecting the 'get info' option on the song file.
Spokespersons for Apple could not provide confirmation or official comment at the time of publication.
The revelation could put a dampener on what many advocacy groups had hailed as a victory for consumer rights when Apple announced that it would be providing tracks from EMI without DRM software.
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Do you agree?
Why is this news?
The songs purchased from iTunes have always had this information. It also is not too hard to remove it. This does not even deserve to be news.
Posted by: john noonan 03 Jun 2007
its just a tag
You can easily manipulate the tags. This article is completely useless.
Posted by: Dick 01 Jun 2007
So what..
Forums do the same thing, the forum admin has every members IP address, and all the info they have entered. Its no big deal that they do the same thing. WHat is there to hide? If there is somethign to hide,thats your own fault.
Posted by: Noah Wilcox 01 Jun 2007
i don't see what the big deal is
duh. you buy something, there's gotta be a way to prove you bought it in case something goes wrong with it -- digital or otherwise. check this: http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/gartenberg/archives/2007/06/thoughts_embedd.html
Posted by: billyburg person 01 Jun 2007
Missing the point
It's not that apple lied about the drm thing or that people want to be able to share the music all over the internet. It's about apple not telling people that they attach personal info to the music they buy. You may say "well what's wrong with that unless you share your music online there isn't anything to worry about" wrong. It means that spyware/crackers now have a new easy target to gain personal info from. Also what if your ipod full of music with your name all over it is stolen and shared on the internet. Guess who's screwed?
Posted by: Wind 01 Jun 2007
I don't understand?
How his can be viewed wrong in any way. Tagging the files with your name/email was a given. Why should they not be? How does his in any way make them less or more attractive? What is he point of this article?
Posted by: Eytan 01 Jun 2007
Re ; I don't understand?
What do you mean tagging the files within personal info "was a given" ? It's not a given for the mp3s I buy at other sites that sell music for download.
Posted by: kingLuma 01 Jun 2007
DRM-free is not the same as Pro-Piracy
Being DRM-free does not mean that it's pro-piracy. As long as you don't pirate your DRM-free music, and as long as Apple protects your private data, there should be no problem. But people looking for a license to steal can dream on...
Posted by: INTPMann 31 May 2007
So?
DRM free does not mean you can do whatever you want with the music. The only way this is a pain to the buyer is if he or she starts posting his music on file sharing services. In that case a boat load of spam seems like a nice punishment. And you are STILL liable for copyright violations. These songs are still copyrighted.. get over it.
Posted by: M Duran 31 May 2007
Same as before but without DRM.
This information was always available in the song file. I didn't expect it to change and it hasn't
Posted by: Bob 31 May 2007
This is bad, how?
Presumably you are purchasing the drm-free music you are using. It's simply an id acknowledging that. No restrictions on the amount of times you can copy, burn or move to another machine. You can even alter the file if you wish (and I'm sure some enterprising soul will begin offering a 'stripping program') so I'm confused as to why this is a 'bad thing'.
Posted by: John Morgan 31 May 2007