Keurig coffee DRM gets hacked by plastic

The thing about DRM is it will always get hacked, eventually. Sometimes it’s dead stupid. Just ask Keurig, who saw their attempt defeated by a piece of plastic.

The purveyor of overpriced, low quality coffee launched their Keurig 2.0 brewing system last year. It features a scanner that only allows approved K-Cups to be used with the machine. It works by looking for an identifier marked by a special ink. If the machine doesn’t find it, it rejects the your heathen pod.

If that sounds familiar, it’s the exact same tactic printer companies have been using for years. Third party K-Cups are often sold for far cheaper than Keurig’s own expensive brews. So the company has strong financial incentive to put a stop to this egregious case of consumer freedom.

Now The Rogers Family Company, one of the unapproved manufacturers, is fighting back. They’ve come up with an ingenious device to stop unnecessary DRM in its tracks.

A special piece of plastic, dubbed the “Freedom Clip” because this is America dammit, is fitted over the scanner. It tricks the machine into thinking it’s seeing an approved K-Cup, thus freeing you from Keurig’s coffee tyranny.

Rogers Family is currently giving away the clips for free if you sign up on their website. They’re hoping maybe you’ll buy some pods on the way out too. You’ll probably want to grab one soon before Big Java sends them the inevitable cease and distress.

Of course, if coffee DRM still has you steamed, just break out the old drip maker. Better yet, switch to a more civilized drink like tea.

Source: Engadget