In the last couple days, I’ve read several reports of people discovering embedded user data in the new DRM-free versions of music on iTunes.
While I’m not suprised, having embedded user data within these files is essentially a form of Digital Rights Management, which at the very least points to false advertising by Apple regarding these new music files. I’m quite certain that a utility will exist shortly to strip it out, should people want to, but Apple is being very guarded about these files and exactly just how DRM-free they really are.
I personally have no problem with my user data being embedded, since as long as I transfer these files between equipment I personally own, nobody will ever see that data but me. But, Apple needs to make this clearer either through their advertising campaign, or in the end-user license agreement (near the top, not the bottom).
I agree with you here Duane.
The problem for me with DRM was never the fact that I couldn’t share it with my friends. What I really hate about DRM is that it restricted my freedom. I was unable to play any DRM music from Apple on my Squeezebox (a network music player) and likewise, the music couldn’t be used on other types of MP3 than my iPod. If we are going to be legal about things then this is the way to go, however, it is very sneaky for Apple to be secretly including user data information. To me, this looks as if Apple is adopting an aggressive legal strategy in which users who shared their music are later faced with lawsuits. It should be the other way around – users should be aware of the consequences of sharing their files and therefore will not share them in the first place.