QTFairUse is a software application first released in November 2003 by Jon Lech Johansen. It dumps the raw output of a QuickTime AAC stream to a file, which could bypass the digital rights management (DRM) algorithm called FairPlay used to encrypt music content of media files such as those distributed by the iTunes 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 an MPEG-4 (MP4) container), but later incarnations properly supported full conversions.
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, QTFairUse is free 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, supports iTunes 6.0.2 through 7.0.2. An updated config file compatible with iTunes 7.1.2 was released on May 14 2007. An iTunes 7.3.1 compatible configuration file was released on June 12 , the same day Apple released the new iTunes update. An iTunes 7.4.2.4 compatible configuration file was released on September 18 2007. 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
- ^ "hymn:: View Topic - QTFairUse6". Igor Skochinsky & Hymn Project . http://hymn-project.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1553 . Retrieved 2007-08-09 .
External links
- iTunes Copy Protection 'Cracked' - BBC News (Posted October 25, 2006)
- QTFairUse6:
Media Convert - free and on line - convert and split sound, ringtones ...
To convert a file located on your computer : Check File ... converter, online media converter, media-convert.com, mediaconverter, online mp3 converter, free media converter, online file ...
ø How To Convert FLAC to MP3 | W-Shadow.com ø
On the other hand, MP3 is a lossy compression format that is supported by pretty much any audio player (plus the files tend to be smaller). Sometimes you need to convert FLAC to ...
MelodyCan: Convert Purchased DRM Protected Music and Movie Files to ...
MelodyCan: convert DRM protected audio and video files for iPod, iPhone, Zune, any MP3, MP4, DVD players, mobile phones on the astonishing speed. Convert any purcahsed music or ...
MelodyCan: Converting Any Audio to MP3 and iPod Formats
MelodyCan converts any purchased music and audio book files that you can only play on your PC, such as WMA, M4P, M4A, AAC, RAX, RA, AA, ATRAC, OMA, OMG, FLAC, OGG, AIF for ...
How To Convert Mp4 to Mp3 – Mp4 Mp3 File Conversion
File conversion made easy. Learn how to convert MP4 to MP3 with free MP4 converters. Start converting MPEG4 today!
HOW to Convert Wave Files to MP3 Files - Free Downloads of HOW to ...
HOW to Convert Wave Files to MP3 Files: wav wma mp4 mpeg pdf. The X-Files, M-Files, RM Files Converter
MP3 Converter, convert file to mp3 file converter Free Download - RER ...
RER MP3 Converter is the best MP3 file converter software to convert to MP3 files from video/audio and convert MP3 files to popular audio formats. Free download.
Free FLAC to MP3 Converter --- Convert FLAC files to MP3 files with ...
Free FLAC to MP3 Converter,how to convert MP3 from flac files in minutes with Magic FLAC to MP3 Converter
Audio Converter Software. Convert sound files wav wma mp3 aac etc
Free audio conversion software to convert sound files wav, mp3, wma, aac and most other formats. Download for PC & Mac. Start converting in under a minute.
YouTube - How to convert MP3 files to video
How to convert MP3 file to video by adding a pic to it with the free Windows Movie Maker, so you can host it for free on Blogger, etc (which doesn't allow uploading of MP3s yet).