Apple Computer has forced a developer to stop distributing a plug-in that turned its iTunes music player into peer-to-peer music-sharing software. The plug-in, called iCommune, allowed iTunes users to browse the music libraries of other Macintoshes over a network and stream or download music from them.
On Wednesday, Apple notified developer James Speth that he was violating the terms of his software agreement and ordered him to stop distributing the plug-in and to return Apple"s development tools. (Speth removed the iCommune download from his Web site). Apple"s move comes amid increasing hostility between the entertainment industry and music-swapping applications such as Kazaa and the now-defunct Napster.
However, Apple did not make any direct reference to copyright issues in pulling the plug on iCommune. Instead, the company said that Speth broke the terms of the agreement that allowed him access to the iTunes software development tools. Apple makes those tools available to those that want to make their hardware compatible with iTunes but not to software makers that want to tap into iTunes.
"The iTunes (software developer) materials are licensed only for the purpose of enabling the licensee"s hardware device identified in the agreement to interoperate with iTunes," Apple said in its letter to Speth. iTunes "is not licensed for use in a software program for sharing of music over a network." An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.