RealNetworks To Sell iPod-Compatible Songs
According to an article in the New York Times, RealNetworks will debut a technology dubbed "Harmony" tomorrow which mimics the licensing rules of FairPlay, and provides compatibility with the iPod. After attempts by Ron Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks, to contact Steve Jobs to license FairPlay went ignored, Real moved ahead with development of Harmony through reverse engineering. Planning to incorporate the technology into its Rhapsody online music distribution system, Real also admits they have plans to license the technology to other companies, which could open the door for others to provide iPod compatability.
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99 months ago
Does this violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)? I thought it was illegal to reverse engineer copyright systems?
99 months ago
so... apple doesn't know yet?
it will play on the iPod because its an illegal copy of FairPlay?
heh... wonder what they had to do...
edit: whoa whoaa!!! they're going to license it, too?!
it will play on the iPod because its an illegal copy of FairPlay?
heh... wonder what they had to do...
edit: whoa whoaa!!! they're going to license it, too?!
99 months ago
Real needs to make their service available to Mac users before they make thier Harmony DRM'd songs available. BUT, I'm sure Apple could easily break Real's software if they want to in their next version of the iPod's firmware.
99 months ago
I've got a feeling that Apple's not going to take this one sitting down.
However, it's good to see how much other companies want to plug into the iPod. I remember when they first came out and tons of people thought Apple was off their rockers. Now they've got an item that tons of people are desperate to plug into in order to distribute music.
I think they've figured that the iPod is the reason for ITMS' success, even though Apple has repeatedly told them that online distribution is not a big moneymaker - the iPods are what make the jack. And they're making a lot of it for our favorite computer company. :D
However, it's good to see how much other companies want to plug into the iPod. I remember when they first came out and tons of people thought Apple was off their rockers. Now they've got an item that tons of people are desperate to plug into in order to distribute music.
I think they've figured that the iPod is the reason for ITMS' success, even though Apple has repeatedly told them that online distribution is not a big moneymaker - the iPods are what make the jack. And they're making a lot of it for our favorite computer company. :D
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