Apple to stick padlocks on books for iPad

Apple is dusting off FairPlay - the digital rights management used by iTunes - to protect electronic copies of books sold to iPad users.

FairPlay irritated some iTunes users and was dropped for most music content last year.

But when the iPad launches next month, along with the iBook store, copyrighted content will have some restrictions on its use, the LA Times reports.

Apple's move will be criticised by some, but might be seen as a way to get more publishers interested in the gadget. Music firms had equal fears about putting content on iTunes without protection.

The downside will likely be in the form of hiccups with the technology stopping people doing quite legal things with their content, and probable fury from the committed freetards opposed to any form of content management. ®