On 15/06/07, Stephen Deasey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
There are two types of programmes: those the BBC owns rights to, and those it doesn't. One argument against releasing BBC owned programmes without DRM on the Internet is that it would make it difficult to then also sell it to Fox, for example.
Yeah, but don't forget that even when the BBC is the producer of a programme, it is not the sole rights holder. Programmes where the BBC owns all rights in perpetuity with no residual payments due are very rare - mostly news, some (but not all) documentaries, and very old archive footage. It can be really hard for anyone not connected to the media to get their head round, but programmes don't have all their production costs set up front and then nothing beyond that. If a series is rebroadcast, lots of people associated with it are due additional payments. It's a very finely balanced system which basically works: without it, almost no actors would ever make a living out of acting (and remarkably few do already).
