Joost's PR Flacks Invite Hacks

I think it's time to start your office betting pool on how long it will take before the new Joost Internet television service is hacked.

If you haven't heard about Joost yet, trust me, you will. Regardless of its obvious merits (of which there are many, don't get me wrong), based on Joost's current rank and trajectory on the Web 2.0 Hype-O-Meter, it's already shaping up to be this year's Second Life. And it's only February!

While I am genuinely excited about the potential of this still-in-beta service, and I do NOT condone hacking or piracy of any kind, Joost's creators are all but begging the hacker community to take a run at it.

In today's press release announcing Joost's partnership with Viacom, Joost is described as being "powered by a secure, efficient, piracy-proof Internet platform."

Piracy-proof?

Now maybe Joost's PR folks got a little overexcited, but issuing a press release boasting that your online video service is "piracy-proof" is like waving a red cape at a bull.

Do I want Joost to be hacked? No, of course I don't.

Do I think Joost will be hacked. Yes, of course I do.

Name a "piracy-proof" video technology that hasn't eventually been hacked:

• "Scrambled" cable TV? Hacked.
• Direct-to-Home Satellite TV? Hacked.
• DVD? Hacked.
• HD DVD? Hacked.

Anyone spot a trend here?

I truly hope the Joost folks prove me wrong. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Comments

[Curmudgeon]

Hopefully someone will write a hack that will allow me to use Joost on my non-intel MAC :-(

Or, I guess maybe I'll just have to shell out the dough and get with the new program!