iTunes Plus… Email

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As promised, iTunes and EMI (partially) delivered on their promise of releasing DRM-free music. However, the initial batch of tracks doesn’t include anything in my collection.

The bigger news with the new service seems to be iTunes Plus embedding personally identifiable info, such as name and email, into every file. I don’t have a problem with tagging tracks as a means to limit piracy, though Apple would be taking less heat by being  more forthcoming. Like most folks I blew right past the Plus fine print, so I’m not sure what I agreed to. This is all I was able to dredge up from their Terms of Use:

(xii) iTunes Plus Products do not contain security technology that limits y our usage of such Products, and Usage Rules (iii) – (vi) do not apply to iTunes Plus Products. You may copy, store and burn iTunes Plus Products as reasonably necessary for personal, noncommercial use.

5 thoughts on “iTunes Plus… Email”

  1. Dave: Funny thing is that Apple has always imbedded this information in iTunes Store purchases – but no one worried about it before because it really couldn’t be shared. If one follows the EFF arguments about losing your iPod and getting your email address exposed it should have always been encrypted. Regardless, Apple could be more forthcoming than #7:

    You agree that Apple may store and use the Registration Data you provide (including credit card and PayPal account information) for use in maintaining your accounts and billing fees to your credit card or PayPal account.

    If someone really wants to break their agreement and share the iTunes Plus without exposing themselves, transcoding to MP3 256, 320, etc., is easy enough and removes all traces.

    While leaving such data in the clear isn’t the wisest, it’s not the end-of-the-world either.

  2. I thought I remembered that from back in the iTunes 4 days of Hymn. I think it managed to unlock the restrictions but some of that personal data was still attached. Didn’t bother me then, still doesn’t bother me.

  3. The media flap about this is much ado about nothing — been there, done that. Apple’s been doing this exact thing for a long time, and this fact has been known by many.

    But, there are organizations out there like the EFF that are opportunistically taking this issue as a soapbox to get their name out there yet again. Personally, I think they should stick to the REAL issues here.

    Bottom line: If you buy content, DRM or no DRM, it’s wrong by the law to share it or otherwise use it for more than reasonable personal reproduction. Seems simple enough to me — as said above, if you want to get around it, you can, certainly there are easy ways. But if you do, you also stand liable to pay the price.

  4. Gerry:
    I agree. Right now DRM-free leadership is the most important step. That should be lauded.

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