If you’ve ever used the myFairTunes or QTFairTunes programs to strip DRM from Apple’s FairPlay or Windows Media encoding, then you’re probably familiar with the Hymn Project. Last week, they received a cease and desist letter demanding that all download links be removed from the site. From their forum:
Until further notice, no links are to be posted anywhere on the site to programs that can strip DRM from any of Apple’s music or videos. Any user who does so will get the link removed and a warning from us. Any further infraction will get you banned permanently. The site will remain open for now and we won’t have a problem as long as we abide by the C&D.
The DRM-removal tools were used by many people on iTunes track to listen to those songs on unsupported players, mobile phones, and other non-Apple devices. One of the site’s administrators speculates that the reason Apple made this move after so much time was possibly related to Requiem, a new program in development, that utilizes file decryption rather of than re-recording music from memory while it is being played (see DoubleTwist).
Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.