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DRM Free iTunes... Marked Files... Downloads have personal information.
lilB
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Yes, DRM free iTunes is great and all, but I noticed something interesting...
Downloads from iTunes are embedded with your name and email address, including the DRM free ones. This information is not stored in the ID3 tag, but it is embedded into the file.
Now there is probably some easy method of stripping this information, but then I began thinking.
There must be hundreds of ways they can embed this information into files, perhaps even in ways that can remain in the file even when transcoded. Something like a serial number or some other unique marker. Maybe even an inaudible sound that can be interpreted into data?
This can be used to track pirated music back to the purchaser.
iTunes may not necessarily do anything like this (yet) but its defiantly a possibility.
Thoughts?
Downloads from iTunes are embedded with your name and email address, including the DRM free ones. This information is not stored in the ID3 tag, but it is embedded into the file.
Now there is probably some easy method of stripping this information, but then I began thinking.
There must be hundreds of ways they can embed this information into files, perhaps even in ways that can remain in the file even when transcoded. Something like a serial number or some other unique marker. Maybe even an inaudible sound that can be interpreted into data?
This can be used to track pirated music back to the purchaser.
iTunes may not necessarily do anything like this (yet) but its defiantly a possibility.
Thoughts?
lilB on
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Posts
I got no problems tagging files with purchaser information, because the only reason someone would object to this is if they intended to distribute the files.
The problem is going to be when Johnny gives Billy a song he downloaded from iTunes, and then Billy goes and puts it up for sharing, the embedded user is going to be Johnny, who is innocent with 1 exception. Hopefully, IP tracing and so on and such should be sufficient to avoid said situation though.
Take a look at Atomic Parsley to have a look at the structure of the files. Its really pretty neat, and I have no problem with Apple (or any online retailer) marking the content in some specific way. So long as it doesnt stop me from using the file in an acceptable manner we're probably good.
Besides, the purchase date/time is hashed so it would be difficult to fake by a third party. The only ways you're going to be bit in the ass by this is if you share the file or if you give it to someone and they share it (without removing the tags first). They should have used a hashed user ID in the file instead of the plain email address, though.
It's not a big deal. They should have been doing this kind of thing from the beginning, maybe using stenography to hide the user id. Could have avoided all this DRM crap we've suffered through.
edit: curses!
Why are you acting like this is a new thing?
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As you can see, the Apple ID is in there, but that's about it.
Because it made it as a slashdot story this morning. So now it's Big News(tm).
IT Security says that it's just your name, your Apple user name, and your email address. Not exactly your credit card info and the addresses of your immediate family members.
And fortunately it's my spam email account which has been sold to just about every company out there by now.. My next step in spam protection is to start blocking anything not in my contact list. I dunno what Yahoo uses as a spam filter, but it's terrible. I recommend 2 e-mail accounts to everyone I know. 1 for family members, and 1 to put on everything you are required to have one for.
I can see someone being pretty upset at receiving a C&D letter from Apple or losing an iTunes account or something because Geek Squad got greedy, or someone penetrated their network security.
Or being, you know, sued for $Texas by the RIAA for being one of those Evil Music Pirates. I mean, they're going after the uploaders, and since it was your name on the files, you're an Evil Uploader.
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This is a non-issue. Here are two reasons:
If the music is from the iTMS, that means it is out and in all likelihood, widely available in higher quality. There's no reason for your version of the file to suddenly become widely distributed. It will probably see a very limited distribution.
There are no legal grounds by which anyone could sue you for the crime of an unknown third party. MP3 players are not guns. We do not have laws about keeping them secure and reporting them as stolen. If Apple were to shut down your iTunes account, you could sue them and win just by demonstrating that the distribution was entirely out of your control. No matter what the EULA says, there are certain consumer rights that cannot be taken away under any circumstances. If Apple has the slightest bit of sense, they won't even test the waters here.
But will the RIAA? They depend on people who decide to settle out of court. I could see many lawsuits being filed for individuals who have no idea why they are being sued, but cannot pay the attorney fees to adequately defend themselves.
I still don't care that it's there, but just thinking out loud about the worst case scenarios.
The RIAA has thus far been pretty good about dropping suits with zero merit. Grandmas, people with no computers, etc. Their strategy lives and dies on the fact that they catch people red handed. This isn't the smoking gun they normally go for.
That isn't to say that they won't do it though. They are crazy.
Yes, this is the case.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA*gasp*AHAHAHAHA
It's really not that unbelievable when they have been suing businesses for playing the radio and other crazy stuff like that. Not saying iTunes is doing this but it could happen.
Also, another thing... Don't p2p applications automatically search your PC for music when they install? I can see a lot of people sharing iTunes downloads unintentionally.
One of the things that always bothers me in discussions about DRM and music piracy is that people get up in arms about horrible music license laws like they are somehow entitled to recorded music.
[/rant]
If you are using your purchased tracks in accordance with the license agreement that you agreed to upon purchase, then there really isn't anything to worry about. Besides paranoia about your stolen iPod tracks becoming the number one downloaded tracks on limewire of course
If your sharing client is automatically searching your drives for music you're dicked anyhow. Really these apps should only be sharing things you specifically told them to share. Since not all P2P is about breaking copyrights you might want to share perfectly legit things without participating in copyright infringement at the same time. If you're sharing your own content or Free content there's no reason for eMule or LimeWire to automatically share your iTunes library.
I don't have a problem with this.
We're also due for the "people find out remnants of their files can exist in non-zero'd out large blob files" like the last time that came to light with Steam. And people thought Valve really wanted their Pikmin fanfics.