DVD Jon cracks iPod code

CRACKER, JOHN Lech Johansen has released a "security enhancement" to Apple's iPod which undoes the proprietary iTunes system.

According to the Sydney Morning Hearld, DVD Jon, who at the tender age of 15 cracked the encryption scheme used by DVDs, claims he has worked out how to beat the iPod and its FairPlay encryption technology.

His outfit, DoubleTwist, has developed a program to get around any of Apple's iTunes content restrictions and he plans to license it to digital music stores.

It appears that Johansen's technique involves tricking an iPod into thinking it's playing an iTunes-purchased song by emulating FairPlay.

The kicker for Apple is that Johansen thinks the software is legal because it does not remove any protection and is technically adding to it.

He said that his software protects copyrights, but does not keep you locked into the iPod. It will be interesting if the US justice system agrees with him.

More here. µ