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Apple has launched iTunes Plus, which features digital rights management (DRM) free music.  EMI, the first major label in partnership with Apple will release its catalog of music through iTunes.  In theory this is giant leap for users, who want to be able to move their files freely around for their own use.  There is, of course, a price to pay for that.

The purchased DRM files from iTunes will have not just your name, but all of your account information from iTunes.  What’s more, all of the songs in iTunes has your information on them including the encoded M4A files.

So now, in theory, Apple can trace your tracks wherever they go.  Share it with a friend, they know.  What about on another computer or device of yours?  They know.  Apple doesn’t want to get into the copyright enforcement business.  That would hurt their image of being a “cool” company and paint them with the brush of “evil” that the labels have on them.

If someone may be looking at you, would you be less willing to share your files?  This casual enforcement is something the labels are attracted to.  This doesn’t mean the information is being stored for later use.  A close look at the terms of service of the current iTunes shore does not have any information on this, but look out for it with your updates.

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