iTunes v. WinAmp: DRM Cracked Once Again


A Cambridge University student has developed a plug-in for WinAmp, the Windows music player, which not only obviates the need for iTunes for iPod, but also removes Apple's DRM on the fly, allowing users to download tracks from iPods to any PC, The Inquirer reports.

The WinAmp plug-in has already recorded over half a million downloads, the story says. What's more, it works with every generation of iPod, from the original 5-giggers, to the latest and greatest.

The developer, Will Fisher, says he found iTunes "inconvenient". He says, "It allows you to copy music from an iPod to a computer and it integrates with a DRM removal tool that allows you to remove DRM on the fly."

Fisher states he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong, and that there are 'fair use' reasons for using the plug-in.

"I trust my users to use ml_iPod responsibly and not steal music," Fisher is quoted as saying.

Analysis: That's fair enough, but you'd have to be naive to think that the WinAmp plug-in won't be used by pirates as well fine, upstanding citizens - particularly as the block which prevents people from putting iTunes music on peer-to-peer networks has been removed.

We'd be extremely surprised if Apple didn't respond to this with an iTunes update in the very near future.