The BBC iPlayer system lets Internet users to see BBC shows, such as Doctor Who and Top Gear online and also or to download them onto a desktop. The corporation agreed with production firms to incorporate anti-piracy measures in all programmes. This anti-piracy software, termed digital rights management (DRM), ensures that new shows get off after a week. Files downloaded onto a PC carry a 31-day expiry rate. Then they are no longer viewable! Hackers though, have found a back door entry into the system that lets them to easily download unprotected versions of any show. One hacker informed The Guardian: “The BBC accidentally opened the floodgates to give the world DRM-free downloads (if only it were down to something, such as poor design, decisions & ineptitude.”
However, the BBC clarified the iPlayer system was yet in its trial phase (beta), and that it was working overtime to solve the problem. A spokeswoman stated: “This is not unusual or surprising. We had made it clear that the iPlayer on iPhone & iTouch is still in beta that enables us to pick up on such issues & find a solution before we roll the service out - in full in due course. “We have released a fix for preventing unrestricted downloading of streamed television programmes on BBC iPlayer. The security of rights-protected content online is an issue that we take very seriously.