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It all started three months ago. I had just finished writing an article on the benefits of open-source software for Podcast Magazine.

I then had to write a long interview on the “Podcasting2.0” revolution, interviewing @adam and @dave.
No wait. Back up. Let me start earlier.

18 years ago, access to online music gave you no real choice… It was either Charybdis or Scylla, piracy or DRM.
Quick reminder, DRM are as useless as a paper pan: it's like protecting a safe with a code whose combination would be written with lemon juice on a piece of paper stuck to that safe…
But that's not the point.

In 2005, all music sold by Apple on iTunes was still “protected” by the “FairPlay” DRM.
Therefore it was impossible to copy music purchased on iTunes.

The Rogue Amoeba company distributes Audio Hijack software which allows to “plug” the audio output of any software to the audio input of any other. An innocuous but essential feature for everyone working in the sound industry...

Which also makes it possible to “take out” protected music from iTunes to “push it” into a recording software and thus remove the DRM protection, thus opening a breach for honest customers (they have paid) but libertarians ones (they want choose their software).

At this time, the RIAA, which defends the interests of rights holders, acquired an Audio Hijack user license…

At Rogue Amoeba headquarters where they saw the order placed by the RIAA, they were probably feeling the sword of Damocles getting closer every day, the sanction becoming inevitable, the worst was yet to come...

And then… Nothing.
Nothing for 18 years!

Until that day in 2023 when The Podcast Magazine published the interview I did with Adam Curry and Dave Jones. And for questions of accessibility to non-French speakers, I published an English version on the @Castopod blog.

During this interview, I highlighted the "Podcasting 2.0" revolution, a revolution initiated by my guests, starting from the origins of the Podcast, of which Adam Curry had been one of the most active actors, while debunking some rumors that I had heard.

For example, I had heard that Adam Curry had one day picked up his phone to hear Steve Jobs himself telling him:
“Steve speaking. Adam can you please give me your podcast index, please, Adam, c'mon, please…”

Of course, this is all fake news. Well, almost everything. Adam Curry did meet Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs did ask her for his podcast index. But he also asked his opinion about Audio Hijack, as the RIAA was pressuring Apple to ban it.

Adam Curry explained that Audio Hijack was essential for anyone working in the sound industry.

Steve Jobs answered…

Now imagine Paul Kafasis, founder of Rogue Amoeba, reading this story in this interview, discovering after 18 years that everything was played out behind his back.
He had no idea what had happened then!

He wrote an article to express his surprise by telling the story from his point of view:
https://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2023/03/24/the-riaa-v-steve-jobs/

Adam's and Dave's interview is available here:
https://blog.castopod.org/the-podfather-2-0-the-pioneers-strike-back/

thanks @benjaminbellamy
we had it last week about it: @maren @derchristian #fyi #eob ;)