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Hacker Claims Breaking Apple`s Restrictions

Exciting news for portable media fans comes from the known hacker, Jon Lech Johansen. The hacker, known as "DVD Jon", is responsible for hacking the copy-protection mechanism on DVDs and other similar products, and now claims that he hacked Apple`s playback restrictions protocols. Currently, Apple is offering users the possibility of purchasing digital music through its iTunes service. Songs from Apple`s service won`t play on any other portable media player due to those restrictions.

Other media providers are using the same trick. This way, users are forces to use different services for different portable devices. Although this technique is aimed at protecting copyrighted content, it is basically making extra revenue for service providers like Apple. DVD Jon announced that he plans to license his newly acquired information and to capitalize from his breakthrough. Previously, Johansen used to offer his knowledge free to the community online, however the 22-year old is looking to make money off his talent.

Apple`s spokespersons said that the company does not like to comment on the matter, but experts say that the 22-year-old might find himself facing Apple`s lawyers sooner than he expects, and that, obviously, is not pleasant. The legal ground surrounding issues like this one, with reverse engineering in question, is very unclear, and we will have to wait and see what will be the charges ?if any- that Apple`s legal department comes up with. In case Johansen`s information does go online, this can mean that content from online services like iTunes will work on all other portable media players, in the near future.