Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

The BBC is starting a trial at the end of this month where people will
be able to access BBC programs from the previous 7 days and download
them using a proprietary P2P network. The downloaded programs will be
protected by DRM and will self-destruct (or be unplayable?) after 7
days. It looks like the service will use a special media player (or
will it be MS Media Player?) program which will presumably include the
DRM technology.

Does anyone know anything about the nature of the DRM to be used in
this trial? Will it be possible to circumvent the DRM by using one of
the many programs on the net that record streaming video? (although I
think the programs will be downloaded in their entirety before being
watched). How likely will it be that the protection will be hacked?
Has the DRM in Microsoft's Media Player been hacked?

I wonder if the inclusion of DRM is just a sop to be thrown at
copyright holders. The BBC already knows that any program they
broadcast can be recorded, digitised and pirated; and large numbers of
such programs are already available on P2P networks. Implementing DRM
technology seems a little pointless.


Well, I can now answer my own question. I've been accepted on the
trial and just received the software......what looks like a 'skinned'
version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. The DRM system used is
indeed Microsoft's although there seems to be some involvement of a
company called Kontiki at http://www.kontiki.com . I must say, I
don't fully understand what value they're adding.

The programs are downloaded to your hard disk (in WMV format) in their
entirety before they can be watched. You can also play the files in
any media player that is DRM enabled (such as Zoomplayer). Each time
you play a file you must be connected to the internet so that your
license to play the particular file can be checked. After 8 days the
license expires and the files become unplayable.....very annoying.

On the cracking front, it looks like there is a crack (of sorts)
available (see the discussion at
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.ph...&page=17&pp=20 for more
details). This isn't a 'real' crack, in that it's only a procedure
that allows you to strip the DRM from the file IF you already have a
license to play the file.....but that's the most important bit. The
main problem with this procedure is that it's complicated and
longwinded; and as you can see from the discussion, not everyone has
been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



John

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

"John" wrote in message
...
snip details of a crime
been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



Hopefully criminals like you will be publicly flogged to an inch of
your life...

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

":::Jerry::::" wrote in message
eenews.net...

"John" wrote in message
...
snip details of a crime
been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



Hopefully criminals like you will be publicly flogged to an inch of
your life...



Indeed. If is so ****ing cwiminal to watch something when you like that your
licence fee has already paid for.

Criminal behaviour should be actions that are deemed anti-social to society.

Copyright infringement, which is what you are talking about, are merely
anti-social to nazi suit wearing accountants who are trying to squeeze every
bit of profit out of a scarce commodity.

Big difference.

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

"Heracles Pollux" wrote in message
...

":::Jerry::::" wrote in message
eenews.net...

"John" wrote in message
...
snip details of a crime
been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



Hopefully criminals like you will be publicly flogged to an inch
of
your life...



Indeed. If is so ****ing cwiminal to watch something when you like
that your
licence fee has already paid for.

It's nothing to do with any licence fee, all to do with copyright law
etc., never mind hacking someone computer programe.


Criminal behaviour should be actions that are deemed anti-social to
society.

....and stealing isn't?!


Copyright infringement, which is what you are talking about, are
merely
anti-social to nazi suit wearing accountants who are trying to
squeeze every
bit of profit out of a scarce commodity.

Big difference.


No, it's common theft, and I bet you would be the first to complain
if some low-life decided that they wanted to take money from your
bank account or wage packet.

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

John wrote:
The BBC is starting a trial at the end of this month where people
will be able to access BBC programs from the previous 7 days and
download them using a proprietary P2P network. The downloaded
programs will be protected by DRM and will self-destruct (or be
unplayable?) after 7 days. It looks like the service will use a
special media player (or will it be MS Media Player?) program which
will presumably include the DRM technology.

Does anyone know anything about the nature of the DRM to be used in
this trial? Will it be possible to circumvent the DRM by using one of
the many programs on the net that record streaming video? (although I
think the programs will be downloaded in their entirety before being
watched). How likely will it be that the protection will be hacked?
Has the DRM in Microsoft's Media Player been hacked?

I wonder if the inclusion of DRM is just a sop to be thrown at
copyright holders. The BBC already knows that any program they
broadcast can be recorded, digitised and pirated; and large numbers
of such programs are already available on P2P networks. Implementing
DRM technology seems a little pointless.


Well, I can now answer my own question. I've been accepted on the
trial and just received the software......what looks like a 'skinned'
version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. The DRM system used is
indeed Microsoft's although there seems to be some involvement of a
company called Kontiki at http://www.kontiki.com . I must say, I
don't fully understand what value they're adding.


What bit rates are the TV and radio files encoded at?


--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

Please sign the petition asking the BBC to provide better audio quality
on its radio stations on DAB, Freeview, satellite and cable:
http://tinyurl.com/a68e4

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

Well, I can now answer my own question. I've been accepted on the
trial and just received the software......

How did you get on the trial? I couldn't find an "apply here" button
on the iMP website.

Matt

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

"larkim" wrote in message
ups.com...


Well, I can now answer my own question. I've been accepted on the
trial and just received the software......

How did you get on the trial? I couldn't find an "apply here" button
on the iMP website.

i think i read something on one of the bbc message boards about this and
asking for volunteers

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

larkim wrote:
Well, I can now answer my own question. I've been accepted on the
trial and just received the software......

How did you get on the trial? I couldn't find an "apply here" button
on the iMP website.


I applied, but I wasn't picked to be on the trial (good job really,
seeing as I'm back on dial-up), and if I remember correctly there was a
new story on bbc.co.uk (I think it was on the technology website) and
they told you to email your contact details to a certain email address.


--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

Please sign the petition asking the BBC to provide better audio quality
on its radio stations on DAB, Freeview, satellite and cable:
http://tinyurl.com/a68e4

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......howto hack?
 

:::Jerry:::: wrote:
"Heracles Pollux" wrote in message
...

":::Jerry::::" wrote in message
freenews.net...

"John" wrote in message
...
snip details of a crime

been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



Hopefully criminals like you will be publicly flogged to an inch

of

your life...



Indeed. If is so ****ing cwiminal to watch something when you like

that your

licence fee has already paid for.


It's nothing to do with any licence fee, all to do with copyright law
etc., never mind hacking someone computer programe.


Criminal behaviour should be actions that are deemed anti-social to

society.

...and stealing isn't?!


Copyright infringement, which is what you are talking about, are

merely

anti-social to nazi suit wearing accountants who are trying to

squeeze every

bit of profit out of a scarce commodity.

Big difference.



No, it's common theft, and I bet you would be the first to complain
if some low-life decided that they wanted to take money from your
bank account or wage packet.



Yeah, but there is a middle ground here. If I'm a licence payer, which I
am, why can't I download something and write it to DVD so that I can
watch it as originally intended, that is, on a TV screen via my DVD
player? Just who really wants to watch TV programmes on a computer
monitor? OK, they'll be some I accept, but I've never really found the
experience enjoyable. Surely the way round his is to have downloaders
register, including their TV licence details, which can be checked - if
OK, you're good to go, if not, tough.

I don't really accept the argument about piracy here if the process is
properly policed. It's no different to me recording a programme off-air
onto DVD, loading it up on my PC and making copies.

I can understand why the BBC needs to protect content from would-be
pirates, but it seems that this method treats everyone as a criminal, or
as having criminal intents. I'm not, and I object to the BBC's stance.

A potentially great idea not thought through properly in my book.


Clem

Update: The BBC Intergrated Media Player trial and DRM......how to hack?
 

"Clem Dye" wrote in message
...
:::Jerry:::: wrote:
"Heracles Pollux" wrote in message
...

":::Jerry::::" wrote in message
freenews.net...

"John" wrote in message
...
snip details of a crime

been successful. Hopefully someone will eventually put a proper
one-click application together.



Hopefully criminals like you will be publicly flogged to an inch

of

your life...



Indeed. If is so ****ing cwiminal to watch something when you
like

that your

licence fee has already paid for.


It's nothing to do with any licence fee, all to do with copyright
law
etc., never mind hacking someone computer programe.


Criminal behaviour should be actions that are deemed anti-social
to

society.

...and stealing isn't?!


Copyright infringement, which is what you are talking about, are

merely

anti-social to nazi suit wearing accountants who are trying to

squeeze every

bit of profit out of a scarce commodity.

Big difference.



No, it's common theft, and I bet you would be the first to
complain
if some low-life decided that they wanted to take money from your
bank account or wage packet.



Yeah, but there is a middle ground here. If I'm a licence payer,
which I
am, why can't I download something and write it to DVD so that I
can
watch it as originally intended, that is, on a TV screen via my DVD
player?

Read the Copyright Act, you are not allowed to make a permanent copy,
so why would you want / need to burn a copy of the programme to a
DVD? You are allowed to 'time-shift', this is what you are doing by
downloading to your computer HDD.

Just who really wants to watch TV programmes on a computer
monitor?

Not many, but then there is no need, if you really want to view it on
a TV you - with the correct graphics / sound cards.

OK, they'll be some I accept, but I've never really found the
experience enjoyable. Surely the way round his is to have
downloaders
register, including their TV licence details, which can be
checked - if
OK, you're good to go, if not, tough.

As I said, the TV licence has nothing what so ever to do with this
issue, it's a copyright / royalties issue.


I don't really accept the argument about piracy here if the process
is
properly policed. It's no different to me recording a programme
off-air
onto DVD, loading it up on my PC and making copies.

Which *is* the problem, for example, how much money do you think the
BBC have / are making out of selling DVD copies of the new Dr Who
series and how much of a reduction in that market would there be if
it was so easy to copy downloads etc.?


I can understand why the BBC needs to protect content from would-be
pirates, but it seems that this method treats everyone as a
criminal, or
as having criminal intents. I'm not, and I object to the BBC's
stance.

Though luck then, considering that broadcasters / programme makers
don't have to make anything available - if the service gets abused
that is what will happen I suspect!


A potentially great idea not thought through properly in my book.


Only to those who want to abuse the service, which is to allow
'Time-shifting' after all....