Rumor: Tougher DRM Coming to iTunes 5.0?


Is Apple planning to tighten restrictions on the use of music with iTunes Maybe. Cupertino is planning digital watermarking, according to a story at MacBidouille.

Apple have reportedly purchases a digital watermarking system license from Verance, which describes itself as a "leader in digital audio watermarking". Audio CDs with the watermark, when inserted into a Mac, will tell iTunes whether the Mac is authorized to rip tracks from the CD. Loaned CDs can be listened to, but not ripped.

MacBidouille also says that Apple is planning DVD Audio support in iTunes, and these expensive discs in particular will be the subject of protection.

Analysis: Credible. As the article notes, there are kludgey ways of getting around AAC audio protection, at the cost of some lossiness. How this system might be implemented on Macs - and obviously the Windows edition of iTunes - is the important point. How would you authenticate your new Mac with your old CDs, for instance? Moreover, if iTunes poses restrictions, what doors does this open (again) for third-party developers who don't impose iTunes' DRM on users?