Keurig taking DRM to a whole new level.

[EChondo]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so it doesn't effect me, but really? Are they that hard pressed for cash that they have to RFID tag their cups?

Why don't they release their own reusable cups AND coffee grinds? Also, why do they insist on using the "use cup once, throw away" mentality? Why not think of the environment?

Really stupid decision if it goes through.

[dizmo]

Makes a lot of sense really. I'm pretty sure they don't make a whole lot of margin on the machine itself and most of the profit comes from the cups.
Sort of like Xbox and their console with XBL. Most of the profit comes from the subscription.

[beebskadoo]

well they will probably have a call back system, seeing as 99% of the time they are being used in conjunction with online material no one will notice.

I suppose I am a '1 percenter' lol

[Dietrichw]

Source

 

 

No company has done more to change the way Americans drink coffee in the last several years than Keurig Green Mountain. Its method of brewing coffee by injecting hot water into prepackaged plastic pods has quickly grown to rival drip coffee as the preferred means of getting a quick hit of caffeine.

 

One of every four dollars Americans spend on coffee to be brewed at home is now spent on pods, and Keurig, which pioneered the process in the US, dominates the market. But Keurig’s hold on the industry is not as secure as it once was. In September 2012 key patents on its K-Cups expired, and ever since third-party companies have been making pods and selling them at lower prices. In the second half of last year alone, private-label cups went from 7 percent of the market to 14 percent.

 

This is a particularly threatening form of counterfeiting for Keurig. Like printer companies with their inkjet cartridges, Keurig’s business model is built on selling machines cheap and then reaping huge profits on the refills. Now, bereft of a legal monopoly on pod making, Keurig is trying to establish a technological one: its new brewer, which goes on sale this fall, has a mechanism that scans each pod for Keurig’s markings and locks out any unapproved capsules. It’s essentially digital rights management (DRM) — a mainstay in music and video — adapted for coffee.

 

When the Keurig employee tried to use an old-model pod, one without a new ink marker on the foil top, the brewer wouldn’t run. "Oops!" read a message on the touchscreen display, explaining that the machine only works with specially designed pods and directing the user to a Keurig website and helpline. 

 

the new machine’s DRM doesn’t have to be unbreakable — it just has to be good enough to make it easier to work with Keurig rather than against it.

 

I wonder if the marker is on the foil top, then could you cut out the top of a legit K-Cup then tape it to the sensor so it always reads the legit ink marker

[dlf]

I don't know why I read DRM as RAM.

[Brendson]

God dammit this means I can't use my Coffee machines I downloaded from a torrent.

[MegaDave91]

As long as much current Keurig doesn't break, I'm fine.

[The Crazed Child]

Keurig. The Ubisoft of the coffee industry.

[JAKEBAB]

This is out of control whats next a fridge that doesn't cool unless u stock it with a specific brand?

 

How is this legal?!?! why isnt anyone doing something about this?!?!

[Dietrichw]

This is out of control whats next a fridge that doesn't cool unless u stock it with a specific brand?

 

How is this legal?!?! why isnt anyone doing something about this?!?!

because keurig makes the coffee maker that uses keurig K-Cups.

 

Its like nintendo and ds cartridges.  

 

sorry for bad typing, ice cream cone in one hand 

[Createinator]

Guess the DIY movement will come back with a vengeance... Imma make my own electronics myself!

[AMICLG]

This was on the tek a few months ago and Wendell made the joke "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't let you brew that." :lol:

[JAKEBAB]

because keurig makes the coffee maker that uses keurig K-Cups.

 

Its like nintendo and ds cartridges.  

 

sorry for bad typing, ice cream cone in one hand 

wait so u have use a certain cup for it to work? i thought it had something to do with pods that u put in that make the coffee (i have no idea how a coffee machine works i dont drink it nor does my family)

[Jvagle875]

I don't really see a problem with it.

[Dietrichw]

wait so u have use a certain cup for it to work? i thought it had something to do with pods that u put in that make the coffee (i have no idea how a coffee machine works i dont drink it nor does my family)

the K-Cups are the pods. 

[rashdanml]

Automatic coffee makers are mostly meh anyway. 

[Dietrichw]

Automatic coffee makers are mostly meh anyway. 

actually the keurigs are really good, and with really cheap strong Costco brand K-Cups (wonder if they are legit or not)

[Syntaxvgm]

Kurig is out of control with this. Not that it can be enforced. It will be easily bypassed. 

This is what the phrase "a bunch of fags" was invented for. Not gay people. Unless they are making DRM in coffee makers. then they would be gay fags. 

[ionbasa]

To all the people against this, go buy a real coffee maker:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot

[That Norwegian Guy]

People buy these machines in the US?

 

Over here, these types of machines made a hasty exit as customers were smart enough to recognize them as the money printers they were. I mean, why would you put yourself in a situation to be gouged on proprietary refills?

[Syntaxvgm]

People buy these machines in the US?

 

Over here, these types of machines made a hasty exit as customers were smart enough to recognize them as the money printers they were. I mean, why would you put yourself in a situation to be gouged on proprietary refills?

Yah. they are everywhere. 

My gf has one, and she just uses the filter cup. 

[SilenT_LobsteR]

I thought Nescafe had been doing this with their machines for awhile?

[qwertywarrior]

then stop buying them if u dont like DRM ......

[Rafy]

I thought this was old news, infact if I remember correctly a company tried it on one of their machines and it flopped so hard they did not include it in their next line-up.

[Dietrichw]

I thought this was old news, infact if I remember correctly a company tried it on one of their machines and it flopped so hard they did not include it in their next line-up.

maybe but since Keurig is the big guy now when it comes to single cup brewers they might be able to stick around.