Apple may open FairPlay (a crack)

Apple plans to make it possible for people to listen to iTunes' songs on devices other than iPods, according to a published report.

Apple will announce that electronics makers that make gear that sends music throughout the home will be able to play songs purchased from iTunes, according to Britain-based news site tech.co.uk. The publication cites an unnamed source.

There are a number of devices that can stream music from an iTunes library but most can't play tracks bought through iTunes because they can't decode the FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection. According to the report, Apple would allow device makers that are part of its Made for iPod program to decode the DRM.

Devices such as Sonos' digital music system and Roku's SoundBridge have become popular for sending music throughout the home, but have been limited somewhat by their inability to play songs purchased from Apple.

Unclear is whether Apple might be interested in even broader licensing of FairPlay, as rivals have called for. In particular, rival music services would like to use FairPlay so their songs can be played on the iPod.

The company has faced criticism from rivals and legal action in some countries for not allowing other music services to work with the iPod and not alllowing songs bought on iTunes to play on other devices.