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Netflix Ultra HD Content Begins Leaking to Torrent Trackers

posted by martyb on Sunday August 30 2015, @01:09PM   Printer-friendly
from the how-many-pixels-is-enough dept.

takyon writes:

Pirates have apparently found a way to bypass the High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) v2.2 DRM used on Netflix's Ultra HD (UHD = 3840×2160 resolution) content. The release group iON has uploaded a 17.73 gigabyte, 2160p/UHD copy of Breaking Bad's first episode:

The media info for the release shows that the episode has a bit rate of 41.3 Mbps and overall the video specs make it hard to play the file smoothly on the average computer. At the time of writing the 4K leak is only available on private torrent trackers but it's expected to eventually leak to public sites as well. It's currently unknown if the release group broke HDCP 2.2 or if they found another way to capture the stream.

Leaked drafts of the 4K copy protection agreement between Sony and Netflix reveals that the streams are generally well-protected. They also include a watermark so that leaks can be traced back to the source. "The watermark must contain sufficient information such that forensic analysis of unauthorized recorded video clips of the output video shall uniquely determine the account to which the output video was delivered," the document reads.

Netflix informs TF [Torrent Freak] that they are looking into the reported leak and the company will do its best to prevent similar breaches in the future. "Piracy is a global problem. We, like others[sic] content providers, are actively working on ways to protect content featured on our site," a Netflix spokesperson told us.

The torrent description mentions that the file is an "HDMI cap of UHD Netflix with a lossless capture card, encoded with x264." The use of H.264 encoding accounts for the relatively massive file size and bit rate, since Netflix uses H.265/HEVC to encode and deliver UHD streams at a bit rate of about 15.6 Mbps, far less than the 41.3 Mbps seen here.

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  • (Score: 2) by jdavidb on Sunday August 30 2015, @02:27PM

    by jdavidb (5690) on Sunday August 30 2015, @02:27PM (#229840) Homepage Journal

    The watermark is a token defense. Just get one Russian to do the downloading. You could use the watermark to identify and suspend the account, assuming you can automate the process of finding Netflix 4K files on torrent sites, downloading them, and checking them for the watermark. After all that, they will just move on to another account.

    There's something I don't get about that? Why do they do it? Why continue to sign up for account after account and pay for all this only to share it free online and bear the cost again when you need to sign up for a new account? Are they making and selling DVDs out of what they download? Or is it just for the thrill of it all?

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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by takyon on Sunday August 30 2015, @02:58PM

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Sunday August 30 2015, @02:58PM (#229848) Journal

    I think some of them treat it as a hobby. It isn't unusual for well-off people to lay down hundreds of dollars on their hobbies, and I doubt Netflix subscriptions will become an insurmountable expense for these uploaders. Furthermore, it only takes a handful of people to populate torrent sites with content. More than one person is ideal, since some of them may be more focused on quality/filesize than others. Theoretically, being in "the scene" gives you access to pirated media that you would otherwise pay for, offsetting some of the costs. I think that may have been more of a motivation circa 2000.

    https://torrentfreak.com/former-movie-piracy-scene-member-speaks-out-101029/ [torrentfreak.com]

    TF: Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into the movie piracy world?

    SC: I got into movie piracy after being an avid downloader. I distinctly remember in fact, getting a hold of my first movie over a 4 day leech on a 56k line. It was wicked. I loved it, and quickly realized there was some sort of underground in control of all of this. It piqued my interest, and I was determined to get to the top of it. Seemed a little far fetched at the time, and I cant really fathom still how far it snowballed, but its pretty cool none-the-less.”

    [...] TF: What was the main motivation for you to join the movie piracy Scene? What about the others?

    SC: Pride and ego was my main motivation. Most sceners are male, between 18-30, generally white and well educated. Most are middle/upper middle class, students and young professionals.. Pride and Ego fuels almost 90% of their motivations. You are able to achieve a level of status online that you probably could never in the real world; you are respected and feared, and the mystique of it all helps. Sounds foolish now; but at the time it didnt seem so.

    [...] TF: Are there any commercial interests linked to groups that you’ve been connected to or heard from?

    SC: Yes. Absolutely. Money and those accusations have gone on for years. I can attest with certainty that I know groups that have sold – but to sit here and spout their names endangers them and is just slander. Its unecessary for me to publically shame them all. Except maVen. He’s no longer here; and his motivation was money almost 100% of the time.

    https://torrentfreak.com/interview-with-a-warez-scene-releaser/ [torrentfreak.com]

    The Interview (loosely translated from German)

    Q: The scene is regarded of many people as the “Warez Scene”. What is the “scene” for you?

    For me the scene is like a competition, the best group has the highest status. The real scene is just a small elite group. Most of the “scene web sites” have nothing to do with the scene. They only try to make as much money as possible, and bring the real sceners in danger.

    [...] Q: Joe: Where do the programs and movies come from?

    They come to the hands of the Groups in many diverse ways. Either someone buys the things, or maybe they work at the manufacturing company or obtain it from a rental company.

    [...] Q: Denis: Why would someone be involved in this activity when it is such high risk? Is it money? Power? Fun?

    The latter. Money? No. This “power” does not bring me in my material life anything. Thus, it is the fun that makes this “hobby” makes so interesting.

    https://torrentfreak.com/top-pirate-reveals-warez-scene-secrets-071119/ [torrentfreak.com]
    https://torrentfreak.com/i-was-a-member-of-centropy-the-worlds-leading-movie-piracy-group-120526/ [torrentfreak.com]

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