DRM

Will DVD Jon really unlock the iPod?

DVD Jon's new company has recently released DoubleTwist, a pair of software programs designed to let 3rd parties get DRMed music onto the iPod and play iTunes content on non-iPod players. Jon says:

... he points to a sheet of printer paper tacked on the wall that has a typed quote Jobs gave the Wall Street Journal in 2002: "If you legally acquire music, you need to have the right to manage it on all other devices that you own." As Johansen sees it, Jobs didn't follow through on this promise, so it's up to him to fix the system...

I truly believe in what he says and the values he stands for -- 100%. However, I think his strategy is a little more than flawed in light of the current laws in this country. The DMCA's anti-circumvention clause makes it illegal to circumvent DRM systems. Period. That makes half of the programs they offer vulnerable and thus makes the company a great target for an Apple lawsuit. I would expect Apple to find a way to argue that the playing iTunes content on other players portion of their offering is illegal in some way or another -- and that would put Jon's fledgling company out of business.

With this threat looming overhead, would you as an iTunes competitor, sign up to use this technology? I doubt it -- I think the first customers would be excellent targets for suing, given that Double Twist itself has little money.

As much as I like this idea, I don't see it ending well. Regardless, good luck Jon!

Technorati Tags: apple, dmca, drm, ipod

Posted by Mayhem at October 24, 2006 11:30 AM