In a terse statement, a "stunned" Apple accused RealNetworks of adopting "the tactics and ethics of a hacker" with the release of its Harmony software, which allows songs sold via its online store to be played on a variety of portable devices, including Apple's iPod and Microsoft-compatible rivals.
Apple threatened to block access to the iPod using Harmony the next time it updates the software used to run the device. The company last week unveiled the fourth generation of the trend-setting music player.
"It is highly likely that Real's Harmony technology will cease to work with current and future iPods," the company said in its statement.
In addition, Apple said that it is investigating the implications of Real's software strategy under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and other laws. The DMCA broadly restricts the bypassing of copy-protection technologies used in DVDs and in some music CDs and software programs.
RealNetworks has been selling songs from its digital song store since January, but the files previously could be played only on a few portable devices. Apple has refused to provide licences to companies seeking iPod compatibility, and RealNetworks did not seek permission before releasing the software.
Real representatives did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the Apple statement.
Harmony automatically changes songs created in other formats into files that will play on an iPod. Since Apple refused to licence its FairPlay copy-protection software to RealNetworks, the company had its engineers create their own version of the application in order to make the device play them back. Although the company said this action wasn't technically "reverse engineering," legal experts have observed that Apple may have some recourse if it decides to pursue the matter aggressively.
CNET News.com's John Borland contributed to this report.
Talkback
Why are Apple so upset about other people selling songs to iPod users? According to their own admissions they make little or no money from iTunes anyway - it's entirely set up to sell iPods.
Personally I'd quite like an iPod, but don't want to be locked in to Apple's iTunes system (I quite like iTunes, I just want to have the choice), so this is pushing me towards other players.
what a bunch of sick wet W*****S aint they learning nothin´ from whats going on out there ...
THE MORE YOU TRY TO CLOSE THINGS UP THE MORE THEY GET HACKED OPEN AND THE THING IS THE OPEN HACKS WILL ALWAYS WIN THE DAY SIMPLY BY THE MERE FACT THAT IT MAKES PEOPLE LIKE APPLE GO AWAY AND RE-JIG THERE SUPPOSED CLOSED SAFE FORMATS COSTING THEM MORE MONEY AND THE HACKERS NOTHING BUT A FEW MOMENTS MORE BUTTON BASHING ....
GROW UP APPLE JUST MAKE THE DARN HARDWARE LET THE REST OF THE WORLD WORRY ABOUT WHAT GOES ONTO IT YOU AINT GOD YOUR CRAPPY COMPUTERS HAVE PROVED THAT ONE SO GROW UP .
rant off
PS i do not own and am never likley to own any Apple gear it is too proprietery(SP) and too darn expensive and too unreliable .
I own NOTHING Apple, and never will. Apple is one of the greedest companies out there.
Even the hated Microsoft only tries for 10% to 15 % profit on products.
Apple has always DEMANDED at least 24%.
Plus, they've always demanded they be the SINGLE supplier for any possible product, that might be used with one of theirs.
Apple acts exactly ***EXACTLY*** as they have always accused Microsoft of acting.
What a worthless company .............
I agree with the general consensus here.
Apple are a worthless company. i own nothing apple and never will, the people who seem to own an ipod seem to be those who dont have any clue about the IT industry or those with a lot of money.
I myself will never buy anything Apple related, i loved hearing about the olden days of the it world with the intelligent wozniac but its just unfortunate that jobs got in the way and made it so money orientated.
They are just like microsoft, they want to be in the same position as microsoft, the only problem is......they are not as good! :(