Jon Lech Johansen (aka, “DVD Jon”) has made yet another splash in the mainstream press. Unlike his past efforts, where he unraveled the magic behind DVD encryption and earlier versions of Apple’s FairPlay digital rights management scheme for dollar none, Johansen is attempting to commercialize his work through DoubleTwist Ventures, a small San Francisco-based company that, according to the DoubleTwist website,
…focuses on the development of interoperability solutions for digital media and the reverse engineering of proprietary systems for which licensing options are non-existent or impractical.
Which, for our purposes, means licensing a technology that adds code to protected music from online sources other than the iTunes Store (Rhapsody, Napster, or Yahoo! Music Unlimited, for example) that allows that music to play on an iPod.
Word is that DoubleTwist has lined up an unnamed client to use the technology. Now that’s a meeting I would have liked to attend:
Unnamed Client: So, this thingie of yours will let our music play on iPods?
DoubleTwist: Absolutely.
UC: And you’re not concerned that you’re in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
DT: Absolutely not. The DMCA says that you can’t remove copy protection. We’re adding it!
UC: Hmm, that seems like kind of a fine distinction….
DT: Here, let me freshen up that drink.
UC: Oh, uh, thanks. I don’t normally drink in the middle of the day. What is this?
DT: Akevitt. It’s very popular in Norway and, though it tastes a bit strong to Americans, has quite a modest alcohol content. Have some more.
UC: Oh, all right. Now where were we? Oh yeah, so lemme get this straight. I take my music….
DT: Or movies….
UC: Right, or movies, and then run ‘em through your thingamabobby and then what happens?
DT: Wait, your glass is empty again. Can’t have that.
UC: ….
DT: Skål.
UC: Huh? Oh, uh, sure. Skole, or whatever you people say. Wha…?
DT: And then your customers buy the music or movies, load them into Apple’s iTunes, and finally copy them to the iPod, where they’ll play just as they would if they were purchased from Apple.
UC: But thas the part that I don get. I mean — and look, I don mean to upset you cuz you seem like a preddy good guy and all — but then why wouldn’t people just buy this stuff from, like, Apple in the first place or get it for free from the Innernet if they’re kind of, ya know, feeling like they’re rippin’ off Apple anyway, ya know? An’ could I have ‘nother lil hit off that bottle there?
DT: Sure, have as much as you like. Cheers!
UC: And cheers to you too my good friend. You’re a real pal, y’know that?
DT: Thank you.
UC: But that thing I was sayin.’ Why buy from us again? I mean…. Oh, man, I’m kind of… you say this stuff doesn’t have much real booze in it? You wouldn’t lie to me buddy ol’ pal? Cuz yer my friend, y’know and I….
DT: Don’t worry. Maybe you’re just overly sensitive to caraway. To answer your question, you’ll have unique content that Apple doesn’t have…movies, music, games….
UC: Like movies of my kid’s graduation party? Cuz that was really awesome. I, like, got up at the end and did, like, this Neil Diamond thing… You have “Cracklin’ Rosie” where you come from?
DT: Yes…
UC: So like I had the sideburns painted on and, like, this merkin thing on my chest, and it was just freakin’ awesome! The kids ate it up. And, it’s on tape and we could sell that. Let’s see Steve Jobs get a copy of that!
DT: Exactly. And if, by chance, your customers preferred slightly more mainstream content that is also available from the iTunes Store, you simply sell it for less money.
UC: Uh, well, our margins are already kind of thin….
DT: But you’ll sell ten times the amount of media you now sell because it’s compatible with the iPod!
UC: But, hol’ on a sec, I… wait… it’s coming to me.
DT: Take your time.
UC: Oh yeah, I really need to go to the bathroom… no, hang on, that wasn’t what I wanted to say. Oh yeah, if you sell this thing to me and some other people, what’s to keep Jobs from just changin’ something in the iPod or iTunes or, I dunno, what if, like, he puts a curse on us or something? Cuz, I don know if you’ve ever been in the same room with the guy….
DT: I have.
UC: …but he’s a scary mother. He, like, looks right through you and stuff. And, I mean, that and like the black shirt thing and those eyes and, man, I think he could do a curse or hex or something or… man, I do need to use the bathroom, like right now compadre….
DT: Certainly. Just put Apple from your mind. I’ve met with Mr. Jobs and he seems like a very nice fellow. No reason on earth to suspect that Apple would modify its technology to keep ours from working. After all, we’re potentially bringing more customers to the iPod. Who could object to that?
UC: I dunno, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’s real good at sharing….
DT: Not to worry, not to worry. He’s far too busy worrying about Disney’s future. Now before you go, just sign this and I’ll point you in the direction of the men’s room.
UC: Yeah, yeah, whatever, but… what, here? Cuz, man I think I ate somethin’ or somethin’ that… oh man….
DT: That’s fine then. We’ll start working on your media the minute you give the green light. Let me help you down the hall.
UC: No, no man, I can do this…. I can… whoa, okay, maybe just let me lean on you for a second and you steer me there, will ya pal? Cuz, oh man… maybe we oughta get there pretty quick….