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Hacking 4oD?
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:26 pm
by nekokate
I've got 4oD, the free service from Channel 4 that allows downloads of recently aired programmes, installed on my computer. The problem I've got is that the wmv files that are downloaded are copy protected by Microsoft DRM (as you'd expect) and the "right" to play the file expires after 3 days of download.
I was wondering if anyone here knows of a way to strip the DRM from the files, as they stay on the user's computer but simply won't play once the copy protection kicks in.
I was thinking that, if I could do that, then I'd be able to upload pretty much any recent Channel 4 show to some webspace for anyone of us Couchers to grab.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:31 pm
by faceless
I've never actually looked at DRM before, but I'll give it a go. I reckon there will be a registry entry somewhere for it if you know how to look at that. Go to "start" click on "run" and type "regedit" and press enter to have a look at the entries.
Have you tried converting the files to another format such as divx? I'm not sure if that would work, but it might.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:55 pm
by major.tom
I think the best bet would be to convert the video from wmv to another format. That should strip the DRM.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 4:18 pm
by faceless
I just installed the 4OD software, but it won't let me register as I need to update windows to be able to use DRM - not something I can do. I'll take a look about and see if there's any way round it though.
edit: ok, this program seems to do exactly what you need Kate. I've not tried it, but it seems right.
https://files-upload.com/197061/2007-04- ... X.zip.html
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:21 pm
by nekokate
Thanks for that - I'm downloading it now and I'll let you know if it works
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:02 pm
by nekokate
Dang it. It doesn't seem to work
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:10 pm
by faceless
ah well, have you tried converting the file? That program 'Super' that I linked a while back is the best I've used.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:58 pm
by Bob
Be interested to see if you've found a way around it, though I don't know if converting it will work, some something that I tried a while back, it converted it all scrambled...but that was yonks ago and never bothered since.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 8:37 pm
by Lucky Lucan
Google this "FairUse4WM" I have not tried it, but it may be of some use.
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:08 pm
by nekokate
Oh well, I don't seem to be able to do this at all.
I don't even see why they put DRM on programmes that have just been on FREE TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION the day before! If one was to record them onto a video cassette at the time they aired that would be fine, so why try to stop people having them via download? Swines!
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:11 pm
by faceless
If you could post a short clip that you know has DRM in it I'd like to have a look at it -
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:34 pm
by nekokate
Big news!!!! (at least for me it is!)
I have found an application that strips WMV DRM, even from 4oD downloads.
It's called FairUse4WM, and here it is - it's marvellous!
https://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Fa ... 56529648/1
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:52 pm
by faceless
Looks good, but how does it work? I loaded it up and it said searching for keys then crashed...
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:06 pm
by nekokate
faceless wrote:Looks good, but how does it work? I loaded it up and it said searching for keys then crashed...
You need to have DRM material on your computer. Then it searches for the relevent keys. Then you drag DRM'ed files into it and click convert.
I don't know why it crashed for you, but it works brilliantly for me...
I'm currently doing a marathon download of Peep Show episodes from 4oD and stripping them as I go. Hoorah!!!
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:12 pm
by faceless
ah right, it will be the dragging bit I wasn't doing. As far as an OnDemand Peep Show stripping marathon is concerned... ooer!