MacAdder said on Friday, 10 October 2008

This has done the rounds before. Apple should set up a separate DRM system for QuickTime that's not related to the iTunes one (which it's categorically stated it won't share with anybody). Still, you can watch iPlayer programs online on an iPhone - but it'd be nice to download them.

SamDouglas said on Friday, 10 October 2008

DRM is has no place at the BBC.
Rose is a Microsoft whipping boy and should be replaced with someone who understands and respects the needs of the consumer.
The BBC has some of the best quality content on the planet. Its just a shame Auntie is still stuck in the past and forcing DRM down peoples throats.

Zwilnik said on Friday, 10 October 2008

The BBC don't need to have iTunes DRM. They can simply write an iPlayer application for the iPhone and use their own DRM. Except they've not actually got their own DRM now, having blown all their budget on licensing it from Microsoft.

Toni said on Friday, 10 October 2008

"The BBC has some of the best quality content on the planet. Its just a shame Auntie is still stuck in the past and forcing DRM down peoples throats."

MMM - in support of a company that locks phones to their bloated music management program and makes you pay for the privilege of having them change the battery for you.

The iPhone market is also a fraction of the Nokia & SE market so why would they bother anyway.

steve said on Friday, 10 October 2008

Me thinks Toni has his own issues here. Toni, if you don't like the iPhone and don't like or use iTunes, don't buy it, no ones forcing you. Apple totally have the right to lock up their products to what ever they like, you then as the 'consumer' have the choice as whether you take part or not, but get off of your Nokia soap box and stop bitchin' about it.
As for the Beeb, the whole download facility of the iPlayer is pointless as it self destructs after a couple of weeks anyway, so why bother just watch it from the net, use ishowU to capture it if you really want it. We should be able to download these programs, it's no different to videoing it, and we the BBC tax payer paid for them anyway.
It's just the BBC passing the buck again as always, blame someone else, it is the easiest way.

Toni said on Friday, 10 October 2008

.. is a she.

The reason it destructs is to stop the freetards downloading content & keeping it.

I have an LG phone, the iPhone is too bling.

Tom said on Friday, 10 October 2008

How many people video content and keep it. Where is the DRM for these video hacks?

Joshua Greene said on Friday, 10 October 2008

Considering that one pays an extortionate amount of money for a TV License so that the BBC can make programmes, it's not absurd to think that such programmes we have already paid for, should be available for us to download, as we've already paid for it.

Haku said on Friday, 10 October 2008

SamDouglas- spot on.

I think it's disgusting that the BBC, *OUR* BBC, continues to treat the people who fund it like criminals, whichever platform they'd like to legitimately use to time-shift content via the internet. The joke of course is that it's trivial to record programmes on a VCR, DVR or Sky+ box without any of the DRM involved.

DRM only harms people who want to do the right thing, but encourages them to become people who don't do the right thing.

Greendave said on Friday, 10 October 2008

Am I missing something - why would the BBC want to put DRM on a 320x180 version of a program? Come to think of it I am not sure I would want to watch it. The iPhone streaming version is 484x272 !! Surely there should be a point where DRM is simply not necessary because the quality is not good enough for anyone to want to keep it. Bit like those low quality MP3s they used to put online without DRM as a teaser to get you to buy the HQ version for keeps.
If the BBC really wanted to distribute this content to Apple users they could make it available through the iTunes store - which Apple will do for free and they can put limited time on it just like they do with the rentals. I think the BBC are trying to make some sort of point - I am just not sure what it is. They have been great with their support of the streaming version for OSXand iPhone/Touch.

Jack The Mac said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

Solution: get hold of a copy of the app iPlayer Downloader, which bypasses the BBC's Apple DRM lockout and enables you to download permanently any iPlayer programme to your Mac/iPhone/Touch.

Jeremy said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

Why is this even news since Apple has repeatedly said that they aren't going to license their DRM because of the responsibility to content providers in trying to keep it DRMed. It seems like they're hoping against hopes and blaming Apple for it. Try another solution guys - that one's not going to work out for you.

Lachlan Hunt said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

I'm glad Apple is taking a stance against licencing their DRM to 3rd parties. It just helps to prove the fact that DRM doesn't help anyone, it gets in the way and content providers should just give up on it entirely.

Christian said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

Maybe the BBC would prefer not to use DRM but given that it doesn't produce all the content it publishes, it probably can't dictate that much. E.g. Heroes available on iPlayer but not produced by BBC. I'm sure NBC/whoever produces it would not license it for non-DRM publishing

Mr Lizard said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

The BBC should be chastised for selecting a DRM format that isn't cross platform. Instead of licencing from Microsoft, why not use our cash to develop their own DRM?

AC said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

I would stick with M$ if it was me spending the money.

Clive F said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

I would make a legacy hardware player that could only be used with the DRM and lock everyone in to buying from only the one source - oh - Apple have patented that already.

Bob HG said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

This is not really about being cross-platform, but more to do with power and control, so, does the BBC work for Microsoft, or vice versa?

photek said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

Apple need to get on top of licensing their DRM out... or they are gonna get a bad name for themselves... I applaud the Beeb for making iPlayer work on Macs and iPhones.... but they were DEMENTED to choose Microsoft's DRM solution... they are wasting MY license fee!.. And Rose should be publicly whipped naked through the streets of London for such an expensive blunder.

steve h said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

The BBC don't own the rights for everything that goes on the iPlayer ... and even where they do they have a right (a duty) to make money out of selling the material on DVD and other media. As a license-payer myself I expect nothing less, because every penny they earn by selling those programmes helps to keep my license fee down. It's actually pretty cheap when you compare it to what you have to pay for ITV (yes, we _all_ have to pay ITV indirectly, because the companies from whom we buy goods spend money they take from us on advertising), and for other broadcasting companies.

Oh, and don't forget that there is no check on whether or not an individual downloading from the BBC has actually _paid_ a license fee! Mavbe they should make the iPlayer a paid service?

Mark Lee Smith said on Saturday, 11 October 2008

Pfff. They should just put there shows on iTunes for free.

tommy said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

you can drag and drop files into itunes.. no need for drm for a free download.. is there???

they should just convert to a usable format...

David Chrem said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

Or I don't know they could just put the programs out for free on iTunes so that way they have Apple's DRM without having to bitch about licensing it, or maybe it should be DRM free?? Information wants to be free!

Thomas said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

Arguing about what kinds of DRM could be acceptable is like arguing how many angels dance on a pinhead. Anyone who thinks DRM has any real value IS a pinhead. As long as I have bittorrent, I don't need the BBC or anything else. I'd rather get my UK-based content from the source, but if that's they way they want to play, I'll take it to the Pirate Bay.

Jon said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

I definitely agree with the comment above about 320 x 180 content - that's worse than any DRM even if it was freely copyable. I tried watching a program using the original iPlayer (which I think is higher resolution) and it was worse than watching an old VHS tape. If people want to keep poor quality video, let them, and forget DRM. If people want high quality to keep then they can buy it on DVD/blueray/iTunes store. In it's current form, the iPlayer is far from being useful for me, even if it did work with the iPhone.

NickC said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

DRM is dying and the music industry are busy trying to finally ditch it. With the likes of Play.com the reliance on iTunes and it's handcuff's are diminishing also.

CharlesInLondon said on Sunday, 12 October 2008

" Its just a shame Auntie is still stuck in the past and forcing DRM down peoples throats.". The BBC buys rights to produce a lot of material - but they, too, get stuck with license agreements and rights protection issues. Remember that to just use the Daleks in the newest Doctor Who series they had to license that from Terry Nation's estate.

I agree with others about alternatives: they could either have developed an open standard for DRM - which other companies could use - or do what they seem to be doing and finding a way of delivering content.

iTunes isn't about to give the BBC content away for free. The cost of storage, encoding, content management, support and network distribution isn't free. (Though BBC could probably save a ton of development money by paying iTunes to distribute the shows for 2 weeks free, footing the costs, then charging a fee after the 2 week period expires to just cover further costs. But that would be far too simple for us all.)

Icky said on Monday, 13 October 2008

Same thing is happening with the CH4 on demand service , they keep saying we'll have a solution for Apple Mac users...I ask the BBc the same question as CH4 ...put it all on realplayer we can use that on a Mac easy enough , come on now , we've waited far to long already

Brendan Lewis said on Thursday, 16 October 2008

The whole DRM excuse by the BBC is pathetic and is void. The BBC already broadcasts over analog, digital and satellite, none of which are DRM infected. This proves that DRM has got nothing to do with the BBC's decisions.