I have software like DRM Dumpster to remove the DRM in iTunes purchased tracks. I haven’t really used it yet — they require you use re-writable CDR-Ws and burn the disc once with all the protected music and then with DRM Dumpster convert to unprotected files and re-burn to disc. In future the unprotected versions of protected tracks must remain in the library with the protected tracks if the user chooses to still keep protected tracks in their library — they do this so in future DRM Dumpster will know what songs its already removed the DRM from and won’t make the mistake of re-ripping the DRM from tracks that have already been converted to DRM free.

Now I’m just exploring possibilities to do the same with my videos bought on iTunes. The best thing I can think of is getting Apple TV hookup to an HD TV with VCR and DVD Recorder/Player and get the purchased and copy protected iTunes video content to play on my high definition television (which I am buying later this year) and then re-record it to VHS. I could buy blank VHS tapes — I know VHS in the movie industry for buying movies on VHS is dead but in video stores blank VHS tapes are being sold.

I would record to DVR but then won’t be able to retrieve it and don’t know if the recording would stay or get erased due to DRM.

I used to use HYMN and JHYMN to bust the DRM off of iTunes tracks. But they’ve seemed to have given up on keeping up with Apple and the iTunes updates. The result: I try NOT to buy songs from iTunes anymore.

HYMN was a great idea. It removed the DRM but left the user’s fingerprints on the file so that if they tried to distribute it illegally, it would be easy to find out who did it. But Apple slit their own wrists on several occasions where HYMN is concerned. First, they started LOOKING for the non-DRM tracks that still had the fingerprints, and then refusing to play them. So HYMN changed to remove all traces of the purchaser. That probably put more music straight from iTunes onto the pirated list. Second, Apple kept updating iTunes, so HYMN seems to have given up on trying to stay ahead. The result there: I buy from Amazon (or else I buy the CDs). Apple could have beaten Wal-Mart even quicker if they’d not put so much effort into defeating HYMN.

This DRM Dumpster sounds like it uses the so-called “analog hole” (it isn’t really analog, however) to burn and re-rip tracks. This is, of course, always an option. But it should be noted that the quality of each track is reduced with this process.

-Mike