• by Shankar Gupta , July 1, 2005

Norwegian software programmer Jon Johansen Tuesday posted to his site a patch that removes a restriction on Google Video, allowing it to play files from any video server, as opposed to just the search giant's own. Johansen helped develop the open source code that Google based its video player on.

Johansen posted the patch to his Web log--So Sue Me--one day after the release of Google Video and the Google Video Player. Johnasen, known throughout the Web as "DVD Jon," previously faced criminal charges for allegedly helping to release software that cracked DVD encryption algorithms. He was acquitted in 2003.

The patch simply removes less than 10 lines of code in the program that restricts the use of video servers other than Google's. The Google Video Player was released Monday, allowing Google users to play free clips uploaded to the search giant's servers. On the day of the release, Jupiter Research analyst Gary Stein described the search giant's move as "probably the most significant play in the online-on-demand video market."

Johansen views his tweak of Google's video player as a relatively minor endeavor. After news reports of Johansen's activities surfaced, he wrote in his blog: "Journalists never cease to amaze me with their ability to blow things out of proportion." Johansen himself did not return a request for comment.

Google itself also downplayed Johansen's work with the video player. "The Google Video service was not compromised in any way; nothing was "hacked," a Google spokesperson said. "The Google Viewer source code is posted to our Web site and freely available to the world." The licensing agreement for the Google Video player states that users "may redistribute it and/or modify it."