Account Name Embedded in DRM-Free iTunes

MacRumors · May 30, 2007, 12:48 PM

TUAW notes that DRM-Free iTunes music still contain your username embedded in their tags.

This "Purchased By" tag can be seen in the Get Info window in iTunes.

arn · May 30, 2007, 12:50 PM

I don't think this is that big a deal. I think it's just another tag. you could change it if you wanted to.

arn

kainjow · May 30, 2007, 01:00 PM

My guess is you could use AtomicParsley to strip it out.

BrianMojo · May 30, 2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

I don't think this is that big a deal. I think it's just another tag. you could change it if you wanted to.

arn

Well, there's that. Also, frankly, I like the idea that just because it's DRM free doesn't mean you should necessarially be doing anything illegal. But then again, I have no doubt that someone will make an app that strips all of this information completely and automatically within the next few weeks.

Doctor Q · May 30, 2007, 01:08 PM

If it's just that editable tag, that's about the weakest watermark they could have.

Freg3000 · May 30, 2007, 01:08 PM

I agree - looks pretty benign.

justflie · May 30, 2007, 01:10 PM

I have no problem with it. The whole point of DRM-free music was not to illegally share it with others, but to rather be able to use it for yourself as you see fit (personal use).

kainjow · May 30, 2007, 01:15 PM

I am trying to find a quick way to remove the info

Daiden · May 30, 2007, 01:16 PM

Not a big deal to me. Even though Apple now gives me the freedom to do whatever I want with (some of) my music, it doesn't mean that I will. I appreciate the DRM-free music.

das Brot · May 30, 2007, 01:16 PM

I think it is digitally signed, so you can't remove the tag without breaking the signature.

kainjow · May 30, 2007, 01:18 PM

Well think about it this way...

You lose your iPod. Some random dude finds it and puts it on his computer. If he knows how to work with the hidden files on your iPod, he instantly has access to all your iTunes songs which contain your full name and email address.

All from a dinky iPod...

CrackedButter · May 30, 2007, 01:18 PM

Why would you want to remove it anyway?

Peel · May 30, 2007, 01:20 PM

I think this is a good idea. Removing the restrictions from the music, but still holding people accountable for the their purchases. Though I suppose people will set up bogus iTMS accounts for the sole purpose of getting around this.

longofest · May 30, 2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by das Brot

I think it is digitally signed, so you can't remove the tag without breaking the signature.

Even if there's a signature, if you broke the signature, what would that prevent you from doing? You should still be able to play the file, as its not encrypted. I don't think any audio players check signatures in meta data to make sure they're correct in order to play it, unless they are trying to comply with a DRM scheme, which is not applicable to the iTunes Plus songs...

nagromme · May 30, 2007, 01:22 PM

It may be editable, but not in iTunes itself.

Anyway, it's a sensible anti-piracy measure which doesn't limit our use. Much nicer than DRM. And they're not hiding it either, your name (and your email//account name) are plainly attached.

Peel · May 30, 2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longofest

Even if there's a signature, if you broke the signature, what would that prevent you from doing? You should still be able to play the file, as its not encrypted. I don't think any audio players check signatures in meta data to make sure they're correct in order to play it, unless they are trying to comply with a DRM scheme, which is not applicable to the iTunes Plus songs...

It wouldn't be to prevent you (or anyone else) from playing it, but if a certain song showed up on the torrent sites, it could be tracked as to where it originated in the first place.

BrianMojo · May 30, 2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peel

It wouldn't be to prevent you (or anyone else) from playing it, but if a certain song showed up on the torrent sites, it could be tracked as to where it originated in the first place.

...but not if you broke the signature and removed the tag, right? I thought that's what his point was?

pmppk · May 30, 2007, 01:39 PM

This data is editable / removable in a hex editor. Removing it does not affect the ability to play the song, even when imported back into iTunes.

JPyre · May 30, 2007, 01:55 PM

This is the best anti-piracy idea out there, all software/data should be like this, granted itll be hacked, but I think personal accountability is a good step.

I guess ill have to get rid of my ipod and alpine-ipod connector and start burning mp4 cds now.

peterjhill · May 30, 2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmppk

This data is editable / removable in a hex editor. Removing it does not affect the ability to play the song, even when imported back into iTunes.

Do we know if they are also using some sort of digital watermark? They could make the easy tag for iTunes and the finder to provide the who bought it info, but they could also add a digital watermark to the file that would make it possible for apple to figure out who bought the original file.

Does AAC allow for any VBR? If so, by slightly increasing the VBR rate in some pattern they could possibly use that to provide some ownership information. It would not be impossible for apple to does this with their downloader service in real time when you make the purchase. They were already putting on custom DRM over the whole file before weren't they?

Anyway, I am satisfied with this form of DRM-Free music. I have 182 songs and 5 music videos I can upgrade and will. I am very excited that all of the Gorillaz, Sia, the last two Erasure albums, The Chemical Brothers, Simply Red, and The Bird and the Bee are all available for upgrade. Woot!

Analog Kid · May 30, 2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmppk

This data is editable / removable in a hex editor. Removing it does not affect the ability to play the song, even when imported back into iTunes.

If you buy the same song with two accounts, edit that field to be the same, then compare the files, are they the same? I'm guessing they're not. The file signature should be distributed through the data.

bdj21ya · May 30, 2007, 02:52 PM

I can't really see any reason to worry about this, although it does mean that anyone who would like to broadcast the file to a large number of people (torrent, filesharing service, etc) will probably want to go to the trouble of scrubbing it first.

Seems like a sensible policy to me.

BlueDjinn · May 30, 2007, 03:00 PM

...some sort of digital ID tag if for no other reason than knowing whether you've already purchased the song or not!

That's the only way that features like "complete my album", "may we also suggest..." and so on can work (not to mention the "upgrade my library" option for the old/new versions).

Nermal · May 30, 2007, 03:07 PM

Features like Complete My Album work entirely on the server: They keep a log of what you've downloaded and don't peek at your local library every time.

totolad · May 30, 2007, 03:07 PM

Is anyone having problems, downloading the new songs that you want to go DRM Free? The downloads keep cancelling.

May 30, 2007, 12:48 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Account Name Embedded in DRM-Free iTunes TUAW notes that DRM-Free iTunes music still contain your username embedded in their tags. This "Purchased By" tag can be seen in the Get Info window in iTunes.

May 30, 2007, 01:08 PM	#5
Doctor Q macrumors god Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the table with countless relatives	If it's just that editable tag, that's about the weakest watermark they could have. __________________ "You've just been abducted, of course you need crepes!" -- Walter Bishop

May 30, 2007, 01:08 PM	#6
Freg3000 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York	I agree - looks pretty benign. __________________ FregTK This Is Momentum.

May 30, 2007, 01:10 PM	#7
justflie macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Red Sox Nation	I have no problem with it. The whole point of DRM-free music was not to illegally share it with others, but to rather be able to use it for yourself as you see fit (personal use). __________________ 2 x 2.66 GHz 2009 Mac Pro, 6 GB RAM, GTX 285 ; 32GB iPhone 3GS

May 30, 2007, 01:16 PM	#9
Daiden macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York, NY	Not a big deal to me. Even though Apple now gives me the freedom to do whatever I want with (some of) my music, it doesn't mean that I will. I appreciate the DRM-free music. __________________ http://www.deliciousmacs.com

May 30, 2007, 12:50 PM	#2
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	I don't think this is that big a deal. I think it's just another tag. you could change it if you wanted to. arn

May 30, 2007, 01:00 PM	#3
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	My guess is you could use AtomicParsley to strip it out.

May 30, 2007, 01:15 PM	#8
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	I am trying to find a quick way to remove the info

May 30, 2007, 01:16 PM	#10
das Brot macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2007	I think it is digitally signed, so you can't remove the tag without breaking the signature.

May 30, 2007, 01:18 PM	#11
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	Well think about it this way... You lose your iPod. Some random dude finds it and puts it on his computer. If he knows how to work with the hidden files on your iPod, he instantly has access to all your iTunes songs which contain your full name and email address. All from a dinky iPod...

May 30, 2007, 01:18 PM	#12
CrackedButter macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 51st State of America	Why would you want to remove it anyway? __________________ "Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own" - Bruce Lee http://jonathanjk.viewbook.com/

May 30, 2007, 01:20 PM	#13
Peel macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle	I think this is a good idea. Removing the restrictions from the music, but still holding people accountable for the their purchases. Though I suppose people will set up bogus iTMS accounts for the sole purpose of getting around this. __________________ 24" Aluminum iMac 2.8GHz/4GB/500GB+1.5TB External HD MacBook Black C2D 2GB/160GB 8GB iPhone

May 30, 2007, 01:22 PM	#15
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	It may be editable, but not in iTunes itself. Anyway, it's a sensible anti-piracy measure which doesn't limit our use. Much nicer than DRM. And they're not hiding it either, your name (and your email//account name) are plainly attached. __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

May 30, 2007, 01:39 PM	#18
pmppk macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2003	This data is editable / removable in a hex editor. Removing it does not affect the ability to play the song, even when imported back into iTunes.

May 30, 2007, 01:55 PM	#19
JPyre macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pistolvania	This is the best anti-piracy idea out there, all software/data should be like this, granted itll be hacked, but I think personal accountability is a good step. I guess ill have to get rid of my ipod and alpine-ipod connector and start burning mp4 cds now.

May 30, 2007, 02:52 PM	#22
bdj21ya macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006	I can't really see any reason to worry about this, although it does mean that anyone who would like to broadcast the file to a large number of people (torrent, filesharing service, etc) will probably want to go to the trouble of scrubbing it first. Seems like a sensible policy to me.

May 30, 2007, 03:00 PM	#23
BlueDjinn macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Berkley, MI	This is hardly surprising; they HAVE to include... ...some sort of digital ID tag if for no other reason than knowing whether you've already purchased the song or not! That's the only way that features like "complete my album", "may we also suggest..." and so on can work (not to mention the "upgrade my library" option for the old/new versions). __________________ Visit the Mac/PC System Shootouts! http://www.systemshootouts.org/

May 30, 2007, 03:07 PM	#24
Nermal Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Whakatane, New Zealand	Features like Complete My Album work entirely on the server: They keep a log of what you've downloaded and don't peek at your local library every time.

May 30, 2007, 03:07 PM	#25
totolad macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2006	Problems Is anyone having problems, downloading the new songs that you want to go DRM Free? The downloads keep cancelling.

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