iTunes Plus stores your personal information in DRM-free MP3s

January 14, 2009 3:21 p.m. by Andrew Winistorfer

CNet has a list up about the change over to iTunes Plus, and how every MP3 you switch over to the DRM-free form will have your personal information stored in it.

Although iTunes Plus files feature no copy protection, files downloaded still contain the email address you have registered with iTunes. So although files can physically be shared with, and played by, friends and family, any of your purchases that end up on file-sharing networks, for example, can be traced back to you.

Obviously, this is an obvious drawback to having DRM-free MP3s, especially since someone would have your e-mail address if they look at the file info on MP3s on your computer. Essentially, the tracks still have some DRM, just enough to trace MP3s back to you for prosecution.

Now we can add to the list of reasons why free MP3s are better than ones you pay for: free Mp3's don't have your personal information on them. [CNET]

Posted in: ITUNES

9 Responses

January 14, 2009 at 3:27 p.m.

WillieBoy

Big Brother is watching........

January 14, 2009 at 3:35 p.m.

Daba

Sketchy.

January 14, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.

Gabi Porter

Why does everyone always freak out about this?? If you're not sharing your files illegally, why is this a problem?

January 14, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.

andross

I think it's because iTunes is making the DRM-free move as a way to try to get more illegal downloaders to buy from them, and this kind of stuff undermines what they're trying to accomplish. If they really wanted to get people with DRm-Free mp3s, they'd make them as open as illegally downloaded MP3s.

January 14, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.

pill

Isn't this really old news? I remember reading about it when iTunes "Plus" came out.

January 14, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.

gerald

iTunes Store is a dinosaur. You can't stop evolution.

January 14, 2009 at 9:19 p.m.

windbell

iTunes music is drm-free now, but for the old itunes users, full of
music must pay a 30-cent upgrade per song, 60 cents for video
upgrades, it seems a bit expensive and isn't worthwhile, the very
economical way I use is with this media converter, it can handle with
all types drm and common video music files, and also supports batch
conversion, works easy and great:)

http://www.wmatomp3-converter.com/digital-media-converter-pro.html#123

January 14, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.

drm removal

it looks like the whole free thing isn’t that simple.

I’ve seen people reporting that only US customers will be offered the DRM-free music yesterday .And the upgrade is a all-or-nothing prospect, which means you can’t choose which tracks to upgrade.

Also,I hope Apple gives more options on upgrading my original purchases. I have hundreds of music in my itunes library,and I'm counting the money that will cost if I update all of them!

So, a media converter is much aconomical.I still use software to help me:
http://www.flash-on-tv.com/media-converter.html#141

I'll just wait for Apple to carry out more actions.

January 15, 2009 at 12:04 a.m.

Gabi Porter

"Aconomical" perhaps spambot, but illegal nonetheless.