Top

Hymn Step-By-Step Guide

May 19, 2004

Engadget provides a step-by-step guide to using Hymn (formerly Playfair) to remove Apple’s FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) from songs purchased from iTunes Music Store (ITMS).

Interestingly enough, to run Hymn on a Mac, you also need an iPod. Hymn on the PC does not require an iPod in order to access the keys, but only runs in command-line mode.

Bear in mind that Hymn is only useful if you actually have legitimate rights to the song in iTunes to begin with (ie: you’re the purchaser, or have been authorized by the purchaser), and the resulting DRM-less file still has all of your purchase information in it — if it turns up on a P2P network somewhere, you should probably expect someone to come knocking on your door with a subpoena. If you’re in the US, using this is probably a violation of the DMCA (This is a good time to remind you to write your congresscritter NOW, and ask them to support current DMCA reform actions). It’s also likely a violation of the iTunes terms of service.

Let’s be careful out there…

Rate this:
2.8
Like this article? Share it!
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Comments

Got something to say? [privacy policy]





Possibly Related


HymnalEngadget provides a step-by-step guide to using Hymn (formerly Playfair) to remove Apple’s FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) from songs purchased from iTunes Music Store (ITMS). Interestingly enough, to run Hymn on a Mac, you also need an iPod.  Hymn on the PC does not require an iPod in order to access the keys, but only runs in command-line mode. Bear in mind that Hymn is only useful if you actually have legitimate rights to the song in iTunes to begin with (ie: you’re the purchaser, or have been authorized by the purchaser), and the resulting DRM-less file still has all of your purchase information in it—if it turns up on a P2P network somewhere, you should probably expect someone...


A hymn to fair usePlayfair is back, for the third time, this time hosted out of the US by a party who claims that they are prepared to weather the inevitable legal storm. The name of the project has been changed to Hymn. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Hymn is designed to remove the restrictive FairPlay DRM incorporated into Apple’s iTunes Music Store purchases.  Hymn actually makes a reasonable case for being nothing other than a fair use tool.  It can only be used on songs you can currently play on iTunes—in other words, songs that you have purchased or otherwise legitimately have permission to use. It leaves all of the iTMS metadata information in the file, including the purchaser’s ID—so putting music...


Hymn, FairPlay & PlayfairPlayfair is back, for the third time, this time hosted out of the US by a party who claims that they are prepared to weather the inevitable legal storm. The name of the project has been changed to Hymn. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Hymn is designed to remove the restrictive FairPlay DRM incorporated into Apple's iTunes Music Store purchases. Hymn actually makes a reasonable case for being nothing other than a fair use tool. It can only be used on songs you can currently play on iTunes -- in other words, songs that you have purchased or otherwise legitimately have permission to use. It leaves all of the iTMS metadata information in the file, including the purchaser's ID...


Apple’s Real MessApparently Apple is a little nonplussed with Real's announcement that they've found a way to put their own DRM'd AAC files on the iPod. "We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod and we are investigating the implications of its actions under the DMCA and other laws" Gee, and I remember back when Hacker Ethics weren't dirty words at Apple. Oh well, lie down with dogs and wake up with fleas, lie down with the music industry and wake up with lawyers, I guess. Not that Apple has historically been shy about litigating their way around problems instead of innovating. What would be interesting would be if this actually...


It’s a Real Mess (updated)Apparently Apple is a little nonplussed with Real’s announcement that they’ve found a way to put their own DRM’d AAC files on the iPod. "We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod and we are investigating the implications of its actions under the DMCA and other laws" Gee, and I remember back when Hacker Ethics weren’t dirty words at Apple. Oh well, lie down with dogs and wake up with fleas, lie down with the music industry and wake up with lawyers, I guess.  Not that Apple has historically been shy about litigating their way around problems instead of innovating. What would be interesting would be if this actually...

Bottom