Keurig Competitor Offers Free Hack Workaround For Keurig's Absurd Java Bean DRM
from the you-do-it-to-yourself dept
We've of course been covering for some time Keurig's attempt to lock down the coffee pod market via the "java DRM" it embedded in its latest Keurig 2.0 coffee maker. The technology effectively tries to stop consumers from being able to use competitors' replacement pods (or the reusable pods), something the company's CEO originally (and quite feebly) tried to insist was necessary for the performance of the product and safety of the consumer. Not surprisingly, the effort resulted in a lot of mockery and a number of lawsuits, and it didn't take long for consumers to figure out ridiculously simple ways to beat the technology.In an entirely new level of entertainment, Keurig competitors have now taken things one step further, and are giving away free Keurig 2.0 hacks that allow consumers to use whatever pods they like. Rogers Family Company Coffee and Tea's new plastic "Freedom Clip" simply attaches to the inside of the maker and fools the embedded scanner into believing all inserted coffee pods have been sanctioned by the great Keurig coffee authorities on high:
"It does this by visually identifying a special ink on the lidding. Any cup without this “special” ink is rejected by the machine thus ensuring Keurig’s marketplace dominance. While other companies are quickly working to adopt this special ink to their cups we at Rogers Family Company believe that your right to choose any option is imperative...This clip is our gift to you. Now go forth and brew with freedom."So really, all Keurig managed to accomplish with its ham-fisted java-bean DRM is make itself look incompetent and greedy, while at the same time giving competitors a massive new marketing opportunity by offering choice and freedom back to Keurig customers. Surely these lessons will be reflected in Keurig 3.0, right?
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Filed Under: advertising, coffee, drm, hack, keurig
Companies: green mountain roasters, keurig, rogers, rogers family company coffee and tea
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Next Week's forecast: Solid PR with a high chance of legal action
All that effort into trying to lock down their customers with blatant, greed driven actions, completely bypassed with a simple piece of plastic.
Yeah, I don't imagine Keurig will take this development well.
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Re: Next Week's forecast: Solid PR with a high chance of legal action
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In any case it's good that these companies suffer a lot of public shame so maybe this DRMing fever dies down.
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Either way, that coffee isn't yours...it's just a rental...
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But monopolies so delightful
And since we've got nothing new
Let us sue, let us sue, let us sue.
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Why Bother??
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Re: Why Bother??
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Re: Why Bother??
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Although knowing you Americans, you've probably got some cold coffee variant...
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Re: Why Bother??
This's the bit that amazes me too. They don't even make a great cup of coffee! It produces hot brown water, not what I'd call a satisfying cup of coffee. They're not adjustable for different strengths, which is what I'd consider the most important consideration. For the price they sell for, it's ridiculous.
They don't even win on convenience. I use a #2 paper cone for one cup at a time. I also have a stand-alone maker for a pot at a time. Pour in water, include however much of whatever kind of coffee you want for the strength of brew, and save a potload of cash over the life of both getting just the sort of coffee you want. Paper filters, or reusable plastic ones, are cheap and easily disposed of when used, then replaced.
Why bother with Keurig? *The only* positive it gives you is a reservoir you fill with water periodically, instead of once per pot. Woopee.
People who buy Keurigs are suckers.
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She said to me what's DRM? So I explained to her what DRM is and does and why Keurig is using it.
Once I explained to her that her favorite cup's would not work in the machine because of DRM, the idea of upgrading our current machine went out the window.
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Rogers is already being sued
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DRM from GreedMountain Coffee
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Still no sale
Until then, I'll stick with making my coffee the old fashioned way.
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Re: Still no sale
http://gizmodo.com/how-to-make-cocktails-with-your-keurig-489137273
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DRM is like violence...
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What is the legality of this? And even if technically legal, can this still result in a SWAT team busting in and shooting my dog?
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Being found legally right in court doesn't do you much good if simply defending yourself drains every last cent you had, and large companies know and use this.
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FTFY
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Drink tea!
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DRM sucks, but Keurig 1.0 has its place
I prefer loose leaf tea. It's also awesome.
At the same time, at least once a week I'll fire up my Keurig for a cup of something fast,convenient, and just okay. I don't really think that I'm compromising because I know what I'm getting, and I've had my machine long enough to know what I like.
It's like movies:
Sometimes I feel like artisanal art-house coffee.
Sometimes I feel like kicking back with some trashy coffee-sploitation.
It's a shame that Keurig has to try and deliberately ruin that for future consumers.
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Takes me back
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Re: Takes me back
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The DMCA doesn't enter into it because there is no copyright being protected here.
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Keurig's DRM Scheme Will Fail
BTW, my percolator makes a fair cup of coffee. Nothing to rave about, but it's convenient, stays hot, and doesn't create garbage (other than grounds). I'll save the pour-over, which is truly the best, for the weekends when I have time to spend 5 minutes brewing a single cup of coffee.
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Re: Keurig's DRM Scheme Will Fail
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This is far from clear to me. I think they'll count the beans and crunch the numbers and go with whichever approach they think will maximize profits. Since their target market is businesses and people who aren't really into coffee, it's entirely possible that the lock-in will earn them the most.
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Keurig DRM
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Ordered it
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Because I'd never heard of them, I had no good nor bad opinion about them. If I had been willing at the time to try something new, it is likely I would have picked one up.
Then I read the article about the DRM and the coffee protection scheme.
After that I saw one in Walmart. I recognized the name right away. I knew about it and it wasn't a good rep. Told my wife about it and we walked on, assured we would never try that appliance. As far as I am concerned it has a STD.
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keurig 3.0
3.0 cups will include nfc chips with unique codes which the machine will scan, process for validity, and memorize so that the same nfc chip cannot be used more than once per machine.
Keurig 4.0 will require to be connected to the internet to brew coffee, checking the NFC marker against a database of used nfc chip codes.
lesson learned! :-)
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How to use clip
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manufacturer
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