The iTunes hack PyMusique - which we blogged about at the weekend - has been knocked for six after Apple closed the loophole which allowed it to download DRM-less tracks, reports ZDNet:
Apple Computer has closed a security hole that allowed an underground program to tap into its iTunes Music Store and purchase songs stripped of antipiracy protections.
The PyMusique software, created by a trio of independent programmers online, emerged last week as a copy protection-free back door into the popular iTunes store. One of the creators was Jon Johansen, the Norwegian programmer responsible for releasing DVD-copying software in 1999.
The only problem is that fixing the hack needs all iTunes users to upgrade to version 4.7.1 if they want to be able to buy tracks from the iTunes Music Store - a version which has limits on, for example, the amount of sharing you're able to do.
Sympathies are likely to be unevenly split: anti-Applists are likely to point the finger at the firm for using this as an excuse for greater control, while others will shake their fists in fury at DVD Jon for making them lose out.
Update, March 23: Techwhack is reporting that PyMusique has come up with another workaround. If that's the case, it looks like we're in for a protracted battle - but as much as DRM gets my goat, I'm increasingly unsure that this will end in anything positive - just further clampdowns on consumer freedom.
