FairPlay

FairPlay

FairPlay is a digital rights management (DRM) technology developed by Apple Inc. to protect digital content distributed through its platforms, such as the iTunes Store and Apple Music. It is designed to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of digital media, including music, videos, and e-books.

History

FairPlay was introduced by Apple in 2003 as part of the iTunes Music Store, which allowed users to purchase and download music legally. The DRM system was implemented to address the concerns of record labels and content creators about piracy and unauthorized sharing of digital content.

How FairPlay Works

FairPlay encrypts the digital content using AES encryption. When a user purchases content from the iTunes Store, the content is encrypted with a unique key that is tied to the user's Apple ID. This ensures that only authorized users can access the content.

Authorization

To play FairPlay-protected content, a device must be authorized with the user's Apple ID. Apple allows up to five computers to be authorized at any given time, and an unlimited number of iOS devices. This authorization process involves the exchange of cryptographic keys between the device and Apple's servers.

Restrictions

FairPlay imposes certain restrictions on the use of digital content. For example, users cannot burn more than seven copies of a playlist containing FairPlay-protected songs to a CD. Additionally, the content cannot be played on non-Apple devices unless they are specifically licensed to support FairPlay.

Criticism and Controversy

FairPlay has been criticized for limiting consumer rights and interoperability. Users have expressed frustration over the inability to play purchased content on non-Apple devices. This has led to debates about the balance between protecting intellectual property and ensuring consumer freedom.

In 2007, Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, published an open letter titled "Thoughts on Music", in which he argued for the removal of DRM from music. Following this, Apple began offering DRM-free music through the iTunes Store, although FairPlay is still used for other types of content.

Alternatives

Several other DRM technologies exist, such as Microsoft's PlayReady and Google's Widevine. These systems are used by different companies to protect digital content across various platforms.

See Also

• Digital rights management
• iTunes Store
• Apple Music
• Advanced Encryption Standard

References

• Apple Inc. (2003). "iTunes Store Terms and Conditions."
• Jobs, S. (2007). "Thoughts on Music."