What might be interpreted by some as cracks in Fortress iTunes, others (more partial to Apple) will rather see it as an expansion of the fortress walls. Tech.co.uk's got a small hare running that Apple might somewhat lift its FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions that lock iTunes content to Apple products - e.g., the iPod. Let's just say that wasn't well-appreciated by some quarters who held that the Digital Rights were more like Digital "Restrictions."

The word - still a rumor until the official press release from Cupertino - is that downloaded iTunes content will be made available to partners in Apple's "Made for iPod" program. The FairPlay DRM will be licensed to partners, with the envisioned scenario that their products will be able to upload and play FairPlay-protected content. In addition, another expected announcement is that Apple will open up AAC content streaming via USB. The other word is that this is to undercut the potential for the competition to drift to Zune and its own DRM and digital distribution system, by using iTunes as bait. Quite the bait, though.

The Zune isn't exactly the iPod killer yet (even then the jury has yet to be formed, much less to pass judgement), and Apple enjoys quite the comfortable lead in both hardware and software departments of digital media distribution. Still, if it's willing to open up, and release iPhone and Apple TV, all in the same month, it may be a signal to allies and competitors (and investors) alike: Apple ain't quiting the fight yet. And don't forget who bootstrapped this entire thing to the level it's at today. Them's fighting words.