Apple planning on licensing FairPlay to accessory makers?

There's not a whole lot to go on here as far as confirmation or source, but the rumor is juicy, so we thought we'd pass it along anyways. Tech.co.uk is reporting that Apple is working up a licensing program for Made For iPod licensees that would allow manufacturers to build FairPlay decoding products. We've already seen semi-interoperable products, such as the EVA8000 that Netgear just recently announced, which can work with protected files off of a Windows machine, but that's a far cry from what a fully licensed FairPlay device could do, and we'd be surprised to see Apple open itself up to competition with its own streaming products -- the Airport Express and Apple TV. There's also the possibility that such functionality could allow device makers to include enhancements to their accessories such as album artwork or other track info built into the codec, but we'll have to wait and see what Apple has to say about this, if anything: they're purported be to be launching the program in the next couple of weeks.

[o rly @ Jan 17th 2007 4:32PM]

*IF THIS IS TRUE*

Hell has partially frozen over.
...and France is one step closer to getting what they want regarding DRM being open.

[Cowboy Bob @ Jan 17th 2007 4:51PM]

i doubt that they would actually do this, or at least for a while after the apple tv is released

if the apple tv isnt as hot as they thought it would be, then this would be a very good backup plan.

[disciple83 @ Jan 17th 2007 4:55PM]

I understand Made for iPod to a certain degree, specifically to the point where I know that Creative is now manfacturing chargers and docks that work with iPod. Does that mean that one day I may be able to plug my ZVM into iTunes and have it play nice? You won't see me putting iTunes back on my PC after all the trouble it gave me and my busted iPod, but not everyone shares my distaste for the software.

In any case, this is a pretty freakin' bold move for Apple shoring up the digital download market for itself, especially since it is basically the leader in techno communism with all of its closed source nonsense. As much as I don't buy into anything related to Apple's hype machine, if this prevails, it could provide a ray of sunshine for those stuck with an iTunes account and no iPod, like my sister.

[Karl @ Jan 17th 2007 5:18PM]

I wrote Apple an email earlier this week expressing how ashamed I was of Apple for isolating itself so much on the DRM front. When I saw Jobs announce Apple-Microsoft partnerships in 1997, I was proud of Apple for taking a step forward and working with competitors. In complete contrast to Microsoft at the time. It was a paradigm shift for the IT industry. Apple was going back on that by not allowing interoperable FairPlay.

I'm glad to see interopability coming back to Apple's products. It's a small move (which probably involves giving Apple royalties), but it's a start on the road taking Apple back to a company where any observer would be proud for such an industry changing company.

[The Jeremy @ Jan 17th 2007 5:26PM]

I hope if Apple is semi-liberally [meaning just about everyone but Microsoft and the Zune] licensing Fairplay DRM that this time Sony is smart enough to take them up on the offer. Sir Howard Stringer needs a few more hits and it would be awesome if he could bring home a Fairplay license for the PSP and the PS3.

I've thought for some time that Sony should dump their "Connect" Store and make iTunes their official download platform for SonyEricsson phones, the Sony Walkmans, the PSP, the PS3, and their Vaio computers in exchange for some mad cash. Not only would Apple get some serious money, but they'd further nullify Microsoft's ambitions, nullify the class-action lawsuit, and curtail further legislative adventures on the part of the French parliament.

We should also remember that Apple might not have been allowed to broadly license Fairplay under their existing contracts with the RIAA labels. This is a major "unknown" that people tend to forget when making judgments about Apple's alleged intent.

[J @ Jan 17th 2007 5:28PM]

Yeah but will they license it to work with my Xbox 360?

[Adam @ Jan 17th 2007 6:10PM]

I have long wished that Windows Media Center could play iTunes purchased songs, so that I can play all my songs through the Media Center interface. Hopefully this is the first step in my wish coming true.

[Kim @ Jan 17th 2007 8:06PM]

Adam,

You can play all your iTunes music (both protected and unprotected) directly from Windows Media Center using MCE Tunes software http://www.mcetunes.com/

It will also let you play your iTunes videos within MCE. Media Center Extender (XBOX360) support is coming in version 2.0 (later this month)

[blah @ Jan 17th 2007 6:12PM]

It'd be nice to see fairplay tracks/videos on a PS3 or 360, but with iPod sales now above 20 mil, they have no reason to consider it.

When iPod / iTunes sales start leveling off or dropping, then maybe Apple will start licensing fairplay.

[Reg Muffet @ Jan 17th 2007 6:19PM]

Just think... A Zune that played FairPlay and (still) not PlaysForSure.

My head would explode!

[Ronan @ Jan 17th 2007 6:55PM]

The new Airport Extreme doesn't have an audio out (optical or not). It's expensive for just Airtunes anyway.


Airtunes is being orphaned but it's super technology that never really took off (popular). Opening Airtunes to the Made for iPod bunch could be huge. You could have stereos that bypass the whole Airport Express setup thing altogether. Make it even simpler.

Airtunes is too expensive. Also the iTV does video. It won't get in the way. OTOH Apple could do with a little help getting even stronger in media streaming within the home.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Jan 17th 2007 8:33PM]

AirTunes is only expensive if you don't use the AirPort Express as an additional AP on your home network. My wife and I have used an APE in our dining room for three years and it works as expected - but the lack of a remote is a pain in the rear... but it wasn't expensive - you can find new or refurbished APEs for roughly $99, which is a lot less than a Squeezebox, Roku, Sonos (but also has less functionality).

[warrenpeace? @ Jan 17th 2007 7:42PM]

Would love it if my TiVo could play my 'purchased' songs as well as the ones I've ripped.

[Zeke @ Jan 17th 2007 7:58PM]

I saw this article earlier and dismissed it. It may be true, but it cites *no sources*, so it's total B.S. as far as we know.
Engadget, I trust you guys to sift through the typical ubsubstantiated rumor hype on the internet... Please don't start letting me down now.

[Brett Verseso @ Jan 18th 2007 12:27AM]

Three words: Not gonna happen

[rong @ Jan 18th 2007 12:39AM]

I don't have any evidence that this will come to transpire but it does serve to explain the "unexplained" USB port on Apple TV. When asked about the ports use, Apple did not have a concrete answer. Opening the licensing to allow streaming of protected AAC content via USB SEEMS to be the answer.

[rong @ Jan 18th 2007 12:42AM]

Almost forgot: It's probably only possible through the Apple TV box though so you have to in essence pay Apple for the privilege.

[tekdroid @ Jan 19th 2007 12:06AM]

So, instead of supporting devices that play open-source, superior (yet royalty-free) file formats [like FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, etc] allowing independents to challenge the establishment on their own terms, we think this DRM slavery is 'revolutionary' and welcome 'interoperability' that may or may not be handed to us from the corporations?

http://flac.sourceforge.net
http://www.vorbis.com