Is This Really Hacking?

Apple is claiming that Real Networks has hacked into the iPod in order to allow songs downloaded from Real's music store to play on the iPod.

I think this is blowing what Real did way out of proportion. For example there are a bunch of software applications that allow you to print to a PDF file that aren't made by Adobe. There are a bunch of programs that allow you to create .xls and .doc programs that aren't sold my Microsoft. Have these developers "hacked" into Acrobat, Word, and Excel? I don't think so.

In fact, Apple is trying to lock on their iPod customers into the iTunes music store and it won't work. We are in the age of consumer choice with technology. It's a world where open standards win. Apple needs to recognize that and lock their customers in with a great experience, which they already deliver, instead of intellectual property wars, which they won't win.

Comments

[Derek Slater]

I think you're missing the point. Under the DMCA, one cannot circumvent an access control like Apple's FairPlay without authorization. The exception for interoperability is very narrow, only allowing program-to-program interop (not program-to-music, program-to-data, etc.).
So, yes, typically, you're right that people would be able to achieve interoperability and that's how things normally work. But the DMCA completely alters that. As you suggest and I agree, this is not to the benefit of consumers and other innovators. See:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/media/itunes

[Max Niederhofer]

It's weird that, whenever something that works well because it has some form of open standard that everyone happily adopts (here, iPod plays mp3 and AAC), the successful company tries to move people over to its proprietary formats and close access to all its add-ons to competitors. I think Apple is dreadfully myopic in not letting Real gain access to the iPod. Looks like they make more money with iTunes than I thought. But wouldn't the iPod gain even more market share with Real support? The best thing would be to laugh about it, given Real's history, and move on to build better products and formats.

[TM Lutas]

Apple makes its money from simplicity. You have one license, one set of rules to your music. Real's model provides for different rules for different songs so it's pretty easy to make a playlist with 10 songs and you can't burn it because 1 of the 10 won't allow it in the Real DRM.

With Real DRM in iTunes playlists, who do you think gets the support call and the bad feelings? If you guessed Apple, you win a prize!