Apple Moves To Restrict File-Sharing Feature In iTunes

by Mike Godfrey, for LawAndTax-News.com, New York

29 May 2003

Apple announced this week that it has moved to restrict file sharing over the internet via its new iTunes technology.

The recently launched service had been hailed as the legal alternative to file-sharing services such as KaZaA, and - now collapsed - Napster. However, prior to the issue of Version 4.0.1 of iTunes, internet users were able to share iTunes playlists over the internet.

However, Apple announced in a statement that the service, known as Rendezvous music sharing: 'has been used by some in ways that have surprised and disappointed us. We designed it to allow friends and family to easily stream (not copy) their music between computers at home or in a small group setting, and it does this well. But some people are taking advantage of it to stream music over the internet to people they do not even know.'

The Apple statement explained that:

'The new iTunes 4.0.1 update limits Rendezvous music sharing to work only between computers on a local network (its intended use) and disables music sharing over the internet.'

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