iTunes DRM-Free Tracks: Not So Easily Stolen

Last month, Apple launched a new iTunes service for DRM (Digital Rights Management) free songs.  These songs, which not only lacked copy-protection software to prevent purchasers from easily transferring tracks between computers and digital players, also come encoded at a higher quality.  So not only are you getting a music track that doesn't limit how you use it, it also sounds better.  Win-win, right?

Well, evidently not if you're on the extreme side of the anti-DRM debate.

You see, while there's no code in the file to limit users on how and when they can play the music, there is a little bit of information tacked on.  Specifically?  The name on the account used to purchase the song.  The idea is that if you upload your newly downloaded track to some music piracy site, if anyone on the law enforcement side of things picks up the file, they'll know exactly who uploaded it.  Pretty smart, if you ask me.  You're not limiting use in any way, but you're putting in a major deterrent to anyone who wants to use this new-found freedom to redistribute the track.

However it's caused a small firestorm online as people complain that Apple is doing something truly heinous and evil.  When in reality, Apple is doing nothing more than they always have.  That info has been embedded in every song sold through the store since its launch.  Seems some people not only want DRM-free, they want piracy-protection-free too.  Which they aren't likely to get anytime soon.