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Sky staff brandish ukeleles
...as movies download service resumed
Sky staff have been venting their frustration after a lengthy wait for Microsoft to patch the flaw in its digital rights management (DRM) software, which led to the suspension of Sky By Broadband for many weeks.
As a precaution BSkyB had suspended its movie download service on 31st August after Microsoft's DRM software - which is supposed to protect movies from being copied - had been cracked.
Microsoft patched the software only to be hit by another security loophole. As a result BSkyB suspended its download movie service. For many weeks the service was unavailable to customers while Microsoft worked on yet another patch.
The Sky By Broadband "free" service is exclusive to Sky Movie subscribers and provides popular media content including football clips and Hollywood movies.
According to a BSkyB spokesperson “the service was reinstated at the start of October after consultation with Microsoft and with content partners." You might have been forgiven for missing the restart.
Either way, it seems that the DRM debacle has left a bad taste in the mouth at Sky headquarters. One anonymous source who claims to work for Sky emailed El Reg and said “we at Sky are FURIOUS with MS's ‘look we'll get a patch to you in a few weeks’ attitude. It sucks.”
He also sent in this alternative take on the George Formby ukelele classic When I’m Cleaning Windows, the source explained it’s “a song penned by someone at Sky and mailed round in frustration at MS, the studios and the other download services ...”
"Now I go ripping content to my hearts contentIt's easy for a teenager with a technical bent
Now it's a hobby that suits me
If a Windows user I must be
Then I will take what I want for free
When I'm creaming Windows
Even older people too can take stuff just like me and you
Cos Fairuse makes it easy to just steal stuff from Windows
You don't need a hacker's kit Just download stuff bit by bit
Then give it any almighty rip With Fairuse for Windows
Cos this hacking isn't hard I will never stop I'll rip any content
And fill my hard-drive to the top
These movies they just look divine
But why pay through the nose each time
When two clicks makes it yours or mine
With Fairuse for Windows
Now Steve Jobs he should lose the grin
There's a version that's coming
That makes light work of DRM On Macs - just like on Windows
Cos this hacking isn't hard I will never stop I'll rip any content
And fill my hard-drive to the top
Now there's this famous Napster mob
Whose music service costs a bob
Let's hope they don't all lose their jobs
Cos' Fairuse has fucked Windows
Broadband gives me access to
Every tune and movie too
And I can give it all to you
Thanks Fairuse for Windows!
Turned out Shite again!"
To which we can only add, er, that's all folks.®