According to DoubleTwist, the firm that intends to license the code, 22-year old hacker Jon Lech Johansen managed to ‘reverse’ Apple’s FairPlay copy-protection technology.
Currently, songs bought from other online download stores do not work on the iPod. Apple’s iTunes has an 88% share of the music download market, and 60% of those with digital music devices own an iPod.
The hacking technology could potentially help rivals offer devices that play iTunes-bought downloads and downloads that work on iPods.
Apple has declined to comment on the announcement.
