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Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

keurighack.com

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Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#261
post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That depends. Does Keurig even consider this to be DRM and protected under the DMCA? Or is that just what we call it because that is what we talk about on HN.

The relevant clauses in the DMCA read: "No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title." "[..] is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof" Just about any software DRM exist…

Two major cases apply to this.

The closest version is this one: Chamberlain made garage door openers and claimed that the rolling code that opened the door protected access to their copyrighted "open the door" routine in their garage door opener... Since Skylink's replacement remotes caused that code to execute, they were bypassing the DRM. This was shot down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chamberlain_Group,_Inc._v._....

There is also the lexmark one... They claimed that the numbers read out of their cartridges were a copyrighted algorithm (in a secret language!) that described how to measure the toner amount. Copying this code verbatim was copyright infringement. The courts ruled that this wasn't copyrightable because access controls weren't copyrightable (like you can't copyright a key). Even if it was an algorithm that was creative, it didn't really act like it. Lexmark was told to get lost.

Incidental note... Nintendo tried this with the gameboy and trademark law. It wouldn't load a 3rd party cartridge unless it had the nintendo logo in the ROM. Of course a 3rd party couldn't display that logo because that would be trademark infringement. Courts told nintendo that they lost the right to claim infringement when they required the use of that bitmap as an access control device.

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So, no, I wouldn't worry about losing the DMCA here. Of course, getting sued just to hassle you is another thing - Kuering could file a case they knew they'd lose.

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#262
It's the coffee equivalent of the bypasses used for certain unlicensed NES and SNES games: the game's cartridge had a bracket or port into which you would plug a licensed game, and the unlicensed game had pass-throughs for the signal lines to the system's DRM chip, allowing the unlicensed game to use the licensed game's authority.

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#263
post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We started drinking garbage coffee

Yes! If you care more about coffee and less about convenience you'll end up pouring freshly ground beans over hot water and there isn't a damn thing technology can do to interfere there.

Cough, cough, AeroPress[1], cough.

It's almost as convenient for a single cup as Keurig, much cheaper, and if you've got a local coffee roaster, much, much better.

[1] http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#264
post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the Keurig. It is very convenient but I agree the waste is a bit much. I paid $10 for reusable K Cups and they work great (just don't overfill)[1]. Keurig even sells their own reusable cups.[2] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Brew-Save-Refillable-Single-cup-Brewer... [2] http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp...

These are easy to accidentally throw out at the office, unfortunately. Mine lasted about 2 weeks before I forgot to remove it from the machine and it went out with all of the other K-cups that everyone else was throwing out.

I just use mine at home so I don't have this problem. I could see it being an issue in an office though.

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#265
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Printer companies have tried doing this. IIRC, they lost in court.

What Lexmark lost in court was a case that they brought claiming that the DRM circumvention violated the DMCA. There's no law or case prohibiting printer makers or coffee machine makers from implementing locks like this though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark_Int'l_v._Static_Control...

Ah, yes, that's exactly what I had in mind. So they can't prevent circumvention by law, but they can make it as hard as technically possible.

But as Cory Doctorow points out, DRM can never succeed, because in order to sell a working system to your customer, you have to give them the encrypted content, and the decryption engine, and the key (otherwise, they can't use it). But if your customer is your attacker (or your competitor), you just gave your attacker the encrypted content, the decryption engine, and the key, so now they have everything they need to build compatible cartridges...

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The convenience is hard to beat. I recently switched from a drip coffee maker to a Keurig, and I love it. My wife and I don't drink much coffee and so making 12 cups is a huge waste, we end up throwing away 3/4 of the pot. I also leave for work fairly early (and I don't have a lot of time to spend making coffee in the morning) and so being able to put a pod in the Keurig and get decent coffee out of it a minute or tw…

I can understand the multiple cup problem, it sucks to throw out coffee. For anyone else in your situation, check out an Aeropress [0]. It can make a single cup, it's easy, and I have to boil the water to make tea for my wife anyway :) Less waste than a Keurig, and cheaper TCO. [0] http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

When I saw Aerobie, I immediately thought of the flying ring.

Interesting that they branched out to a coffee press from all their other products., which are basically all things that you throw.

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#267

That's a really nice hack, I fear though that the next generation of "broken by design" consumer electronics devices will make use of much more sophisticated DRM technologies to make sure you only use them as intended by the manufacturer. An example is the German startup Bonaverde ( http://www.bonaverde.com ), which manufactures a coffee machine that not only grinds but also roasts your coffee beans. To make sure tha…

Bonaverde changed their approach, and removed the DRM from the machine (thankfully!) From their update email: "It will also open access to the machine so that you can use whichever green beans you want."

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keurig make espresso machines, the Rivo range.

That use K-cups? They don't look like K-cups.

The comment I replied to said:

> Keurig is not an espresso machine.

Keurig is a company. They make espresso machines. They also make K-Cup coffee machines which is not expresso.

Re: Keurig 2.0 DRM Bypass

#270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can I recommend an Aeropress? It's only a little more work than a Keurig (about the same as a french press), and makes some of the best coffee I've ever had. It's also $25, and has no moving parts or electrical components.

I love my Aeropress, but an arguably even simpler option is something like the Hario V60 ( http://www.amazon.com/Hario-V60/dp/B000P4D5HG/ ). $19, and no plastic if that matters to you. I think the filters probably cost you a bit more than the Aeropress. IMHO you should have several different coffee brewing methods at your disposal :-)

Or you can get a plastic version (with a cup) for cheaper. And the filters are easier to find than pre-cut circles for the AeroPress.

"IMHO you should have several different coffee brewing methods at your disposal :-)"

Agreed!

Now, where's my vacuum pot? I feel the need to expose myself to grievous bodily harm while making some joe.

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