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Microsoft DRM Code for Netflix Streams Hacked
reddburn writes "Macworld has posted a story by IDN News Service about a hacker who posted instructions for saving streaming movies from Netflix, defeating Microsoft's DRM code designed to prevent users from saving the content. From the article: 'A hacker who calls himself Dizzie wrote late last month on the Rorta hacking forum that "Netflix doesn't easily allow you to save the flicks and watch them at your leisure because the films are entrapped in some ... Windows Media DRM wrapper," referring to Microsoft's DRM system. Word of his hack spread more widely this week in various blogs and Web sites...He writes that the process for removing the DRM could take a few attempts, and the process does not remove the time limit imposed by Netflix on viewing the content. The Netflix site was down for maintenance early Thursday, although it was unclear if it was related to the hack. The site was back up later Thursday morning.'"
What's the difference between this and breaking DRM on a music CD so that you can rip it to MP3 to play on your iPod? Or do you enjoy being ass-raped by the media companies?
Easy: With the music CD you pay for the physical media - and even though you are "renting" the ability to play the music, the media is yours. With Netflix, you are only paying for the ability to rent, at their terms, the movie you are streaming.
I would argue, however, that once the data hits my machine, stored in my cache, or travels through my inter-tube into my house, that it is mine to do with what I please. Much like the telephone company demarc being at the telephone network interface... and the lines on the inside of the house being mine to do with what I please (so long as it doesn't break the telephone system).
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
Does it strike anyone as strange that the article is on Macworld about how to exploit a Microsoft DRM in an application that only works on Windows?
As FairPlay has proved, DRM technology does not have to be perfect in order to be effective. If DRM prevents 99.99% of users from pirating movies, then it is a success.