BBC's iPlayer DRM scheme cracked again

by Simon Kerbel Mar 14th 2008

BBC, DRM, and the iPhone: it doesn't sound very steamy. But things are definitely heating up in regards to the BBC and DRM.

The release of BBC's new iPlayer brought with it the typical suffocating DRM restrictions, with the typical amount of outrage in the blogosphere.

However, when the BBC released the new beta iPlayer software that allowed users to view BBC streams on their iPhone, the streams made for the iPhone didn't didn't include any DRM.

Certain intrepid programmers and users were quick to jump on the fact that the iPhone streams were unencrypted. One user was able to use a PC to watch the unencrypted streams by using the Firefox plugin Fast Agent Switcher to convince the iPlayer that it was an iPhone. Developer Paul Battley released a Ruby script to download the iPhone formatted files to your PC.

In response, the BBC iPlayer took countermeasures to block the streams from non-iPhone devices. Just yesterday, in fact.

In response to the response, and after a mere 24 hours, users again figured out a few ways to watch the iPlayer iPhone streams without an iPhone. To get around the BBC's countermeasure, all you have to do is structure the request header in the same way an iPhone does. Or, if you want someone to do the heavy lifting for you, Paul Battley has updated his Ruby script to defeat the just-released countermeasures.

So, with all this intrigue, what should be our conclusion? Should the BBC bite the bullet (however imaginary) and release the streams without DRM? Or is it the BBC's fault that the shows have DRM in the first place?

Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing wants the BBC to lay down its arms and give users access to unencrypted content. His argument: a British license-payer who records a digital video-stream from BBC's broadcast towers can store the recording forever, so why limit the iPlayer?

Others argue that the BBC has its hands tied; that most of the BBC's content are produced by third-party production firms that own the copyrights to the shows who generally won't sell the BBC the right to continuous rebroadcasts of episodes to ensure that there remains a market for DVD's, syndication, and other money-making opportunities.

What a tangled web we weave.

Tags: BBC, drm, iPhone, iPlayer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

A.J. said 5:19PM on 3-14-2008

Is there a way to watch the stream in the US?

Kalessin said 5:44AM on 3-15-2008

I hope not.

James said 11:29AM on 3-28-2008

Why "You hope not"? I'm not saying I want to *steal* the streams, but I'd love a way to get access to BBC shows, and I think the Internet has come far enough along that they aught to start making arrangements. Either set up an iTunes style store, or allow monthly or yearly account fees -- if I'm willing to pony up 200 quid, or whatever the fee is now, for a year of BBC, why should they stop me just because I live in the US?

It's like I'm telling them PLEASE LET ME GIVE YOU MONEY and they just scowl and say FUCK OFF, WANKER. WTF?

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