Apple criticized for embedding names, e-mails in songs

**Hairbautt** · 06-03-2007, 02:07 PM

"It used to be that music fans believed cryptic messages about Satan or the death of a band member were hidden within rock albums."

Recently, iTunes released a new version--7.2.0.34, sometimes called iTunes Plus--of their software that enables users to purchase DRM-free music. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Apple is now "embedding customer information within iTunes music" which includes the customer's names and e-mail address. Naturally, this seems like an attempt by the iPod giant to add some type of watermark to music files so the files can be traced.

However, EFF attorney Fred von Lohmann believes that this was not Apple's intent and Mike Goodman, a Yankee Group Research analyst, said that the watermark is "certainly better than digital rights management." Goodman continues to say that "Watermarking does not treat the consumer like a criminal" where it "works on the assumption that a consumer is innocent but provides the industry an opportunity to catch someone that breaks the law" compared to DRM. So...the whole tracking thing?

Source: C|Net News
--

Related: Apple's Jobs calls for DRM-free music

**mbucari1** · 06-03-2007, 05:16 PM

I Think that's perfectly reasonable. I dispise DRM. This would be a significant improvement. It won't hinder me because I don't upload anything I get from itunes. And this way, I won't have to listen to a tunebyte transcode just because I want some freedom.

**hammerdinh** · 06-03-2007, 05:27 PM

It makes sense. Anyone who wants to share their music might get in trouble, and therefore ... not like it, but the honest ones won't care.

**mbucari1** · 06-03-2007, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by hammerdinh

It makes sense. Anyone who wants to share their music might get in trouble, and therefore ... not like it, but the honest ones won't care.

EXACTLY! You KNOW the only ones bitching about this are the ones who want to upload it

**WHRST** · 06-03-2007, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by mbucari1

Originally Posted by hammerdinh

It makes sense. Anyone who wants to share their music might get in trouble, and therefore ... not like it, but the honest ones won't care.

EXACTLY! You KNOW the only ones bitching about this are the ones who want to upload it

**Hairbautt** · 06-04-2007, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by WHRST

Originally Posted by mbucari1

EXACTLY! You KNOW the only ones bitching about this are the ones who want to upload it

Or give their pal a copy...iPod rips then they could post it online or give it to someone else.

**killuminati96** · 06-04-2007, 02:11 AM

I don't use ITUNES so I don't really care but I was wondering...is the info stored on the ID3 tag? You can delete the info easy if it is. lol I'm sure there is a way to remove the info.

**Hairbautt** · 06-04-2007, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by killuminati96

I don't use ITUNES so I don't really care but I was wondering...is the info stored on the ID3 tag? You can delete the info easy if it is. lol I'm sure there is a way to remove the info.

Von Lohmann pointed out that data could easily be compromised if an iPod is lost or stolen.

I assume you could remove it, too. You know...since its so easy anyhow.