iPhone apps pirated, shared -- but not GPL'd

Seeing as Apple's FairPlay DRM has already been cracked for music and movies, it's not at all surprising that people are starting to poke holes in the FairPlay-based iPhone App Store. The first loophole is pretty simple, since it doesn't appear that FairPlay links the iPhone hardware to specific Apple IDs: just log into iTunes from any of the machines authorized to use your account, and every app you've purchased will be available for free re-downloading to any attached phone. Since music and movies wrapped in FairPlay can be transferred to unlimited iPods and iPhones, we're guessing this little trick will work indefinitely, but we wouldn't depend on it.

There's also a more traditional crack which allows apps to be stripped of DRM and shared without using iTunes, although you'll have to jailbreak your phone to do it. The first app to be widely pirated is Super Monkey Ball, which isn't surprising, and it seems like several other apps have followed it out onto various torrent sites. In addition to the relatively simple jailbreak procedure, running cracked apps requires you to open up SSH access and do some mucking around, so unless your time is worth less than $10, it's probably not worth it. Still, we've got a feeling that won't stop the hardcore pirates out there from doing their thing, and it'll be interesting to see how Apple deals with the problem -- we'd bet that it just looks the other way.

Finally, all these DRM-related restrictions have led to a lot of speculation about offering open source apps under the GPL in the App Store. Since the GPL generally forbids any restrictions on redistribution, it would seem that FairPlay's restrictions would put a software author on pretty shaky ground if they use GPL code in an official iPhone app, as they would have to violate the terms of the GPL by putting the final app in the store under FairPlay without source. Furthermore, even if an iPhone coder starts clean and doesn't use existing GPL code, they can't choose to license the app under the GPL separately from App Store distribution, since sharing source is against Apple's iPhone SDK NDA. Of course, it's not really like open-source devs to sit around getting bogged down in legalities -- Wordpress has already put up all the code for its official iPhone app under the GPL, and it would be a pretty stupid PR move for Apple to ask for it to come down. The only true solution for Apple would be to drop the NDA and allow some apps to be distributed and shared without FairPlay, but that's not going to happen overnight -- and even then there will be logistical and legal hurdles to overcome. In other words: rock, meet hard place.

Funny, these are exactly the sorts of ridiculous, illogical, and inane problems you get when you start screwing around with DRM -- but you already knew that, didn't you, Steve?

Read - Sharing iPhone apps
Read - Super Monkey Ball cracked
Read - Wordpress code released under GPL

[derX @ Jul 28th 2008 4:10PM]

I bet Apple's going to divert their attention to fixing this loophole, to preemptively save them money, from fixing the problems people are having with MobileMe, a service for which customers have already paid.

[huh @ Jul 28th 2008 4:31PM]

I am not one to sink to name calling, but I am puzzled why Apple or anyone thinks Mobile Me-Too would be any better than their last attempt (mac.com) to corral people into their media pen.

This is about as anti open Internet as you can get, and they are basically competing with the most competitive people out there for commodity services, which is not very Apple boutique like.

I'd also like to mention, in case people think it's something great or whatever, that consolidated app finding and upgrading was first done more than ten years ago by various Linux (and BSD) distributions.

I'm not an anti Apple person at all, but they get a lot more credit than they deserve.

[Zak @ Jul 28th 2008 4:24PM]

So... you think Apple only has one team of software engineers or something?

[twoboxen @ Jul 28th 2008 4:37PM]

@Zak

They must, since last year they blamed the delay of leopard on having to move people over to the iPhone development.

[huh @ Jul 28th 2008 4:39PM]

@Zak, if you were writing to me (?), they have more than one team of engineers, but only so much focus. Why do you think mac.com failed so miserably?

I suppose there will always be people who will buy into the convenience and perceived cachet, (and they will forever be under the impression their peers aren't using Apple because of some ignorance even though Apple rarely creates anything), but it will inevitably fall behind what the best of the Internet has to offer. As a parallel, I am sure, if they could get away with it, they would make their Mac line more of a paid media injection device, but they can't maintain a viable product on that basis.

[Zak @ Jul 28th 2008 4:56PM]

@ huh: I don't get what your problem is. Are you suggesting Apple is coercing people into using MobileMe? Do you think people who use Apple products are not allowed to use whatever interweb devices that they want? MobileMe provides services for people who want those services. That's it. Just like how Google doesn't force you to use GMail, but it's there if you want it. Just like any hosting company, you don't have to use it but it's there if you want it.

Your "corraling" and "anti-open internet" comments make no sense. Are you that unfamiliar with how it works with Macs? Also, the whole "somebody else did it first" argument is tired and irrelevant. Apple isn't claiming they did it first. End of argument.

[hiimcliff @ Jul 28th 2008 5:16PM]

mobile me is a complete disaster. they should have kept their service free as a part of a beta program with limited seats and invites (similar to what google did with gmail). then when it was READY then and only then it should have went live. Jobsy is just too damn greedy.

[mymaclife @ Jul 28th 2008 6:30PM]

Am I missing something? I thought this story was about the app store and possible ways to circumvent its DRM, not another place for a minority to winge about MobileMe. Fair play if you want to make your case, but quit using every story to play that tune!

[huh @ Jul 28th 2008 6:49PM]

@Zak, no, I am just commenting in bemusement as Apple makes the same mistake twice, and adding the app store point for conversation, and a sideways point about the GPL. If you don't like it, you can low rank it. As a matter of fact I would love it if comments could be politely debated as a form of constructive debate, but that's asking a lot out of people who expect (want) things to be a certain way.

[Benson @ Jul 28th 2008 4:12PM]

"Of course, it's not really like open-source devs to sit around getting bogged down in legalities..."

No, it's much more like open-source devs to jailbreak their iphones and develop for jailbroken phones. I expect that's where most of the GPLed action will be.

[Josh L @ Jul 28th 2008 4:29PM]

Wake me up when Apple gets its act together and revokes its idiotic NDA. (http://www.fuckingnda.com/) Until they do that and allow developers to get together and, you know, DEVELOP, their entire platform is a joke.

It's baffling to me. There are plenty of great Mac development sites out there, making the Mac platform enjoyable and easy to develop for. Why would they purposefully stagnate development on their brand new, "revolutionary" platform this way? Maybe because they're trying to control the entire ecosystem and protect against Jailbroken apps? As though people who develop for Jailbroken phones will honor an NDA in any event...

[aaron @ Jul 28th 2008 4:40PM]

Who cares...

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 28th 2008 4:45PM]

Who gives a crap about any of that when Apple owns the Zune Guy!

http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/07/zune-tattoo-guy.html

With the two iPods he has now, he'll start an iPod collection and all the apps and movies he can stand, DRM or no DRM. MobileMe is next. Whether MobileMe works or not, it's still better than MobileZuneNothing. He says, "Take that, Zune losers."

This whole Zune betrayal thing really pissed off my avatar. Says he still wants a Zune. Damn low I.Q. primates always want Zunes and bananas.

[deyanimay @ Jul 28th 2008 5:02PM]

Are you sure thats not a self portrait because the words coming out of your mouth makes you sound like a monkey.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 28th 2008 5:21PM]

Sometimes, I really feel like hitting this guy with a wooden baseball bat, and shoving the broken debris up his ass.

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 6:17PM]

@cubs

i think you're mistaking this for fetishforums.com

[Steve Gates @ Jul 28th 2008 4:57PM]

I think I speak for everyone when I say that I hate DRM.

[deyanimay @ Jul 28th 2008 5:03PM]

No you only speak for the consumer not the companies who make the product.

[eZtipS @ Jul 28th 2008 7:58PM]

Actually I think you only speak for yourself when you say: "I" hate DRM.

Speaking for everyone (companies aside), when you say: DRM blows

*runs away and pretends to have life outside trying to make witty comments about people comments on weblogs*

[vudean @ Jul 28th 2008 5:01PM]

i wonder if they work better than the actual app store ones? :)
Facebook just BRICKED my Touch

[Kris @ Jul 28th 2008 5:14PM]

Seriously? Bricked? Do you even know how that term is used out here on the internets?

I highly doubt an application "bricked" your phone.

Go buy a RAZR.

[vudean @ Jul 28th 2008 5:20PM]

yes, seriously. I know what Brick means, as in you are dumber than a brick.
I have lines running down the iPod Touch (not iPhone) and it won't respond to anything (button pushes or touches, or being plugged in). I just talked to Apple tech support and they said they could ship me a new one or I could take it down to the Apple store and they will give me a new one...
off to the apple store :(

[Big @ Jul 28th 2008 5:52PM]

Can't you just restore it?

[Andrew @ Jul 28th 2008 5:06PM]

the method works just in case anybody was wondering

[totoro @ Jul 28th 2008 5:13PM]

Wasn't this always the way iTunes DRM'ed files worked? Up to 5 computers, and unlimited iPods and iPhones?

Anyways, definitely works for Apps too-I have all the same apps, paid and otherwise, on both my 3G iPhone, and my iPhone-now-only-on-wifi.

[Appdirect @ Jul 28th 2008 5:17PM]

I didn't find any iphone news yesterday, I guess the good times are over.

[s3v3n @ Jul 28th 2008 5:19PM]

Let the community develop all the useful apps and release them for free? What do you think this is? Penguin land?

[Chow7 @ Jul 28th 2008 6:10PM]

I can't believe Engadget listed a link on how to get pirated software...

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 6:18PM]

where? all the links were other engadget posts

[Michael @ Jul 28th 2008 6:12PM]

So... not condoning this but say someone had purchased 20 paid apps and posted their user/pass, then everyone could download those apps for free. Interesting....

[numbsock @ Jul 28th 2008 6:41PM]

yeah and they could also purchase new apps...with the idiot's credit card

[Kawaiipikachu @ Jul 28th 2008 7:29PM]

While at first it seams this appears for a change foe Engadget an anti piracy artical then the last line reads out pretty much like “Get you free illegal iPhone apps here they totally free & without DRM”

While i do admit that i don't really trust most forms of DRM but still i can see the fact that these company's are trying to protect there stuff from the billion dollar problem known as piracy .

I somewhat hopefull that apple (at least someone) devolops a form of DRM that at least suvives 2 years without being cracked or even more without preventing even legit copys of software from loading up .

[eZtipS @ Jul 28th 2008 8:16PM]

Actually I think you only speak for yourself when you say: "I" hate DRM.

Speaking for everyone (companies aside), when you say: DRM blows

*runs away and pretends to have life outside trying to make witty comments about people comments on weblogs*

[Whubbsie @ Jul 28th 2008 8:21PM]

How do you get around DRM for music apart from burning to disk and re-ripping? or is that what they meant?

[eZtipS @ Jul 28th 2008 8:23PM]

www.icontrolpad.com


Almost here!

[KirbyMeister @ Jul 28th 2008 9:41PM]

you forgot to mention that the GPLv3 requires you to distribute the encryption keys to sign applications so it's illegal to sell a GPLv3 app at all under Apple's current security model

[Kurian @ Jul 28th 2008 10:59PM]

Yesssssssss!!! Thank You crackers!
Up your's MOFOs. Charging for homebrew that community developers intended to be free eh?

[w00t @ Jul 29th 2008 3:48AM]

No, you've got it all wrong.

The developers are charging for the software, commercially. They also have an option to distribute it for free, so if they intended it to be then it would!

Cracking these applications is going directly against their wishes and infringing their copyright. Some might even call it stealing! (although I disagree)

The homebrew community is and has always been free to all and has nothing to do with this article...

[toyotaboy @ Jul 29th 2008 5:09PM]

while there's something to be said about open source (and I whole heartily support it), most of the apps are very affordable if not free, and because of the very strict rules that apple puts on software developers, I can be certain that anything I install most likely won't lockup my phone (which having a phone that works is more important than playing games on it), and if there is an issue, you can be sure apple will be on their case to apply an updated patch to fix said problems.

[greenhorn25 @ Jul 30th 2008 1:40AM]

You don't need to download APPS onto your computer. I have two iPhones , and once I have purchased an APP (Dizzy Bee), I just go to my second iPhone and indicate that I want to purchase same app. A message will popup saying that I have already purchased the app and if I want to download for free. Press Ok and the APP is on the phone. No need to hassle with syncing or using our MAC.

[Ian @ Sep 12th 2008 7:08PM]

You are a crazy "PERSON"