BluWiki operator takes Apple to court over DMCA claim

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 10:43

Business IT - Technology

Apple has revised the method of calculating the hash at least twice.

The DMCA (like laws in other jurisdictions) specifically allows reverse engineering for the purposes of interoperability.

Reverse engineering the hash calculation is a necessary step in making software other than iTunes (eg WinAmp or Songbird) compatible with the iPod and iPhone.

But Apple alleged the iTunesDB Pages contained "information designed to circumvent Apple's FairPlay digital rights management system", citing DMCA provisions to justify a take-down demand.

OdioWorks capitulated, fearing that to resist could lead to it being put out of business.

At least that's how OdioWorks and its representatives tell the story.

"I take the free speech rights of BluWiki users seriously," said Sam Odio, owner of OdioWorks.

What else did Odio say, and what's the EFF's perspective? Find out on page 3.