- QTFairUse
Infobox Software
name = QTFairUse
caption = QTFairUse6 2.5 under Windows XP
author =Jon Lech Johansen
maintainer = Igor Skochinsky
released = November 2003
latest release version = 2.5
latest release date = November 2006
operating system = Microsoft Windows XP/Vista
language = English
genre = Audio
license =GNU General Public License
website = http://hymn-project.org/QTFairUse is a
software application first released in November 2003 byJon Lech Johansen . It dumps the raw output of a QuickTime AAC stream to a file, which could bypass thedigital rights management (DRM)algorithm calledFairPlay used toencrypt music content of media files such as those distributed by theiTunes Store , Apple's online music store. Although these resulting raw AAC files were unplayable by most media players at the time of release, they represented the first attempt at circumventing Apple's encryption. These early versions of QTFairUse would save only the "raw" AAC (not contained in anMPEG-4 (MP4) container), but later incarnations properly supported full conversions.Released under the terms of the
GNU General Public License , QTFairUse isfree software .Technical approach
Functionally, the purpose of QTFairUse is to convert protected audio files (.m4p extension) purchased from Apple's iTunes Store into M4a files, without DRM. To accomplish this task it uses a rather uncommon approach: instead of removing the already present DRM, it waits for iTunes to play back the protected file and intercepts the unencrypted AAC data stream as it is sent to the
sound card . During this process, it copies unencrypted data, frame-by-frame, into RAM and then inserts it into a new MP4 container that is free of any DRM.iTunes versions
The current release (as of
December 13 2007 ) of QTFairUse6, version 6-2.5, supportsiTunes 6.0.2 through 7.0.2. An updated config file compatible with iTunes 7.1.2 was released onMay 14 2007. An iTunes 7.3.1 compatible configuration file was released onJune 12 , the same day Apple released the new iTunes update. An iTunes 7.4.2.4 compatible configuration file was released onSeptember 18 2007. [cite web| url=http://hymn-project.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1553| title=hymn:: View Topic - QTFairUse6| publisher=Igor Skochinsky & Hymn Project| accessdate=2007-08-09] This config file is also compatible with iTunes 7.5.0.20. The config file needs to be updated with each new iTunes release; so far the author has released updates the same day as the new iTunes release. As of January 15, 2008, the programs author has not updated QTFairUse for the latest version of iTunes, and the current revision is not compatible with that version.Cease and Desist
As of
February 20 ,2008 , the QTFairUse project was given a cease and desist letter by Apple, Inc.All files were subsequently removed from the main download site.References
External links
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6083110.stm?lsm/ iTunes Copy Protection 'Cracked'] - BBC News (Posted October 25, 2006)
* [http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/29/hymn-is-back-fairplay-on-itunes-6-finally-cracked/ QTFairUse6: Is Hymn Finally Back To Strip FairPlay on iTunes 6?] - Engadget (Posted August 29, 2006)
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/11/22/dvd_jon_unlocks_itunes_locked/ DVD Jon Unlocks iTunes Locked Music] - TheRegister (Posted November 22, 2003)
* [http://hymn-project.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2496 Cease and Desist Order] - Forum (Posted February 20, 2008)
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