p2pnet - rss feed: BBC iPlayer: still with DRM
p2pnet news | TV:- The BBC is well pleased with itself.
It says so far, more than 3.5 million programmes have been watched by more than a million people using the BBC’s online video service iPlayer since December 25.
And, the number of users streaming content outnumbered downloader by a factor of eight, it states.
Once known as iMP, "the Integrated Media Player, Interactive Media Player, and MyBBCPlayer is a website and computer program developed by the BBC to extend its existing RealPlayer-based ‘Radio Player’ and other streamed video clip content," explans the Wikipedia.
iPlayer was distinguished by the fact it came fully loaded with Microsoft DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control technology.
"Ironically, Britain’s famed national broadcaster recently named Altnet CTO Anthony Rose head of digital media technology at the BBC," said p2pnet in October, 2007, going on:
"Altnet is a Sharman Networks associate which tries to make a living peddling DRM.
"Sharman owns Kazaa, the discredited P2P file sharing application which is central to the bulk of the controversial corporate music industry sue ‘em all P2P file sharing cases.
"Meanwhile, users of Apple Mac and Linux machines will be able to use iPlayer by the end of the year and it’s also signed up with Adobe to provide Flash video for the whole of the BBC’s video services, including a streaming version of its iPlayer, it says."
iPlayer went live on December 25 and, "Sky, Channel 4 and ITV, have launched rival online video services," says the Beeb.
But it’s still polluted with DRM.
To "meet the BBC’s obligations to rights holders, the BBC will embed downloadable BBC with digital rights management security," says its terms and conditions, going on:
The expiry date for the BBC Content that you download will vary according to the agreements BBC has with rights holders of that content. BBC
Content will be automatically deleted from your computer once its expiry date has been reached.
The iPlayer, "demonstrates how on demand services can bring niche programming to a wider audience," says Ashley Highfield, BBC director of future media and technology.
It also demonstrates how the entertainment cartels are enriched by BBC viewers, all of whom already have to buy licences in order to be able to enjoy BBC programming.
On top of that, users agree not to, "infringe any applicable law including copyright law when accessing and using BBC iPlayer".
The Beeb doesn’t say how it’ll identified infringers, or what it’ll do to them if and when it catches them.
Also See:-
BBC - One million viewers use iPlayer, January 14, 2008
p2pnet - BBC to unshackle iPlayer, October 16, 2007
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January 16th, 2008 at 10:12 am
“…users agree not to, “infringe any applicable law including copyright law when accessing and using BBC iPlayer”.
The Beeb doesn’t say how it’ll identified infringers, or what it’ll do to them if and when it catches them.”
This is purely speculation as to the best of my knowledge no infringers have been caught. The BBC is funded by a unique way which dates back to the 1920s and 30s when it was the only radio and then TV provider in the UK. The BBC is available over air and does not carry adverts nor is it encrypted. If you own a TV in the UK which over 98% of households do you are legally required to buy a licence fee which is about £140 or $280. The BBC uses mailing lists and detector vans to detect people who have a TV but have not paid the licence fee. More woman have gone to jail for this then for everything else apart from shop lifting. So they’ll probably prosecute offenders in the UK. If theres a new version of something like FairUse4WMP they’ll pull the service just like Sky ( a part of News International and cousin of the Fox network) did. If you’re outside the UK then you legally cant use the service but by using a fake IP address such as HideMyIP you probably could and they almost certaintly wont prosecute.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
“The expiry date for the BBC Content that you download will vary according to the agreements BBC has with rights holders of that content. BBC
Content will be automatically deleted from your computer once its expiry date has been reached.”
More hassle than it’s worth. Even if it’s free.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:07 am
James said out the back of his head,
“If you’re outside the UK then you legally cant use the service but by using a fake IP address such as HideMyIP you probably could and they almost certaintly wont prosecute”.
They won’t prosecute, he’s right on that one, cause using a fake IP address WONT get you the BBC goodies.
I’ve tried it.
The beeb just say your outside of the UK.