Hacker Claims to have cracked Itunes Code

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(CBS/AP) A Norwegian hacker known for cracking the copy-protection technology in DVDs claims to have unlocked the playback restrictions of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod and iTunes music products and plans to license his code to others.
The move by Jon Lech Johansen, also known as "DVD Jon," could pit the 22-year-old against Apple's lawyers, experts say, but if successful could free users from some restrictions Apple and its rivals place on digital music.
Today, songs purchased from Apple's online iTunes Music Store cannot be played on portable devices made by other companies. Songs purchased from many other online music stores also will not work on iPods because they similarly use a form of copy-protection that Apple doesn't support.
"A lot of consumers want the ability to play their music on any device and copy protection gets in their way," says CBSNews.com technology consultant Larry Magid. "Right now there is a tower of babble between songs bought on iTunes and all digital music players other than those from Apple and it would be great if that were possible without having to resort to hacking away at Apple’s copy protection."
Johansen said he has developed a way to get around those restrictions by creating code that mimics Apple's copy-protection system. But unlike his previous work, which he usually posts for free, the Norway native plans to capitalize on his efforts through his Redwood Shores, California-based DoubleTwist Ventures, said the company's only other employee, managing director Monique Farantzos.

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