When few days back Google Inc. took a step towards the anti-piracy drive, a question was posed if others would join in (http://www.patexia.com/blog/56). Only few would have known that ‘Apple’, the software giant, was already a part of the drive.

Apple is developing a software which would hold up and prevent the iphone users from recording a live concert of a favourite star or a sports match. This would be made possible by virtue of the software application of the camera that will sense when the user is trying to record a live event and then switch off the device’s camera. The technology will be effective at places where infra-red sensors are installed and will be triggered automatically for an iphone in the range of those sensors. Other functions of the iphone will work uninterruptedly and will not be affected by the technology.

This will surely be received with salutation from different sections of people. Few would be the organizers, broadcasters, record companies, etc. who find holes in their pockets with freely available videos of live concerts and matches immediately after the event or of few portions of the event even before it is over. And others to take a sigh of relief would be the fellow spectators who face obstacles in viewing from the persistent-flashy screens of iphones.

On the face it, this may look like axe-blow on its own feet by Apple, thus discouraging potential buyers from opting for an iphone to whom it might look like a very unattractive deal. It could be argued that the intention of a user might not solely to be record the performance. Users might only be concerned about recording some time which they spend with their friends at the venue, which would also not be possible.

However, it could well provide another source of revenue for Apple if it starts charging users for recording those events. And, indirectly it might prove to be a boon for Apple who could negotiate charges for music available on its itunes website.

The Enabling Technology

Apple filed a patent application 18 months back with the USPTO, which is numbered as 20110128384.

The relevant claim of the said patent reads as:

“A method for controlling the operation of a device based on infrared data received with a camera, the method comprising: using the camera to capture a first image based on visible light; displaying the first image; using the camera to capture a second image that includes an infrared signal with encoded data; determining whether the encoded data includes a disable command; in response to determining that the encoded data includes a disable command, disabling a record function.”

This is directed to systems and methods for receiving infrared data with a camera designed to detect images based on visible light. A system can include a camera and image processing circuitry electrically coupled to the camera. The image processing circuitry can determine whether each image detected by the camera includes an infrared signal with encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image includes an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route at least a portion of the image (e.g., the infrared signal) to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route the image to a display or storage. Images routed to the display or storage can then be used as individual pictures or frames in a video because those images do not include any effects of infrared light communications.

Whether the technology would bring economic rewards for Apple or not cannot be determined right now, since much depends upon user response to the same. However, the risk which the Company has attempted to take with one of its most popular products in the market is commendable.

Cheers to the anti-piracy campaign!