Privatunes: a software that anonymizes iTunes Plus files

Ratiatum.com, a French website specialized in technology news and software downloads, has just launched Privatunes, a free software that anonymizes DRM-free files bought on iTunes Plus. Last month’s revelations that the DRM-free files on iTunes Plus came with user's full name and account e-mail embedded in them had raised serious privacy concerns. Ratiatum.com explains (in French) that Privatunes is aimed at guaranteeing the privacy of users but also their rights as consumers to freely share and trade the songs they have purchased. However, the claim that this software is perfectly legal will surely be tested.

When Apple and EMI decided to release DRM-free files on iTunes Plus last month, their decision was hailed as a breakthrough in digital music distribution. Freeing music from the controversial Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology was seen by many music lovers and technology enthusiasts as the way forward. However, on the day of their launch, those files generated controversy. Reports from Ars Technica and TUAW revealed that these DRM-free music files came with user's full name and account e-mail embedded in them, thus allowing Apple to track who and how those files were shared.

Ratiatum.com, a French online news outlet and software download website, and Matoumba, another information site, have decided to go beyond the mere condemnation of what they consider as a serious breach of users’ privacy and consumer rights: they have launched Privatunes, a free software that anonymizes files bought on iTunes Plus.

The free software, which is currently only available for Microsoft, allows consumers to erase their name and e-mail addresses from their iTunes Plus files. The software, which can only anonymize one file at a time, also offers to make a backup of the original file.

This tool is presented as a means to safeguard, not only the privacy rights but also the consumer rights of the user, which iTunes Plus’ policy allegedly breaches. For Ratiatum, digital property, like any other kind of property, should be freely transferable by its rightful owner. The purchaser of a digital album should be able to transfer it as easily and anonymously as a CD bought in a shop.

Ratiatum also raises the following issue: a user might be contractually and/or statutorily entitled to copy a song for a family member. However, the user has very few means to control whether this file will be further shared by his family member with friends and friends of theirs. Yet, the fact that his personal details are embedded in the file could mean that he may be held liable if the file ends up on P2P networks.

Privatunes aims to help consumers avoid these risks and enforce their rights by erasing their personal details form the files. However, the claim made by Ratiatum that such a service is perfectly legal will surely be tested.

In the meantime, Ratiatum has promised an updated version of Privatunes which will be able to anonymize several files at a time and will be available on Mac and Linux.

- Guillaume Champeau , EXCLUSIF : Privatunes, pour supprimer les espions d'iTunes Plus. Ratiatum.com, 25 juin 2007.

- Arnaud Devillard, Un logiciel pour gommer votre nom des fichiers iTunes sans DRM. 01net., 26 juin 2007.

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