Not too long ago a rather "rough" tool to crack the DRM (Digital Rights Management) scheme used by Apple's iTunes was released named "QTFairUse". The ironically Windows only program caused no limit of controversy after the source code showed up on the web. The program extracted DRM-free, AAC data from a protected AAC stream as it played in the Quicktime player. The program was a little rough around the edges however, leading an anonymous developer to modify it further and create the next thorn in Apple's side: a program dubbed "PlayFair". It's currently hosted at a SourceForge-like site in India after an Apple lawsuit last week forced the program's anonymous developer to support offshoring.

From the site's description: "It takes one of the iTMS Protected AAC Audio Files, decodes it using a key obtained from your iPod or Microsoft Windows system and then writes the new, decoded version to disk as a regular AAC Audio File. It then optionally copies the metadata tags that describe the song, including the cover art, to the new file." Because it is a key based system, users can only decode AACs from the Music store they own, and not those from other users. Since the program emerged, it has fueled a new round of debate over the future of digital rights management and the success Apple will have in keeping the music secure.