BBC plugs iPlayer hole
March 14, 2008
The BBC says it has plugged a loophole that let viewers download shows from its iPlayer without any copy protection. The web-based iPhone edition of the TV catch-up service downloads shows in the handset's preferred, QuickTime-friendly H.264 video format, minus the Windows DRM layer. Some users spoofed the site by getting their desktop browser to pretend it was the iPhone's Safari app.
The BBC said “We've released a fix to prevent unrestricted downloading of streamed TV programmes on BBC iPlayer. Like other broadcasters, the security of rights-protected content online is an issue we take very seriously. It's an ongoing, constant process and one which we will continue to monitor.”