On Thursday 13 March 2008 15:44:56 Phil Wilson wrote: > > --- We've released a fix to prevent unrestricted downloading of streamed > > TV programmes on BBC iPlayer. Like other broadcasters, the security of > > rights-protected content online is an issue we take very seriously. It's > > an ongoing, constant process and one which we will continue to monitor. > > --- > > The problem for me is that as far as I understand it, because of the way > authentication has been implemented, streaming is practically impossible on > anything other than the target platform, in this case the iPhone. This > means that almost any "hack" will result in a downloaded file, rather than > a streaming video. > Phil
You hit the nail on the head, the media in question here is 'rights protected' only in terms of copyright. Given that it is being distributed, short of DRM, I am not sure how the BBC hopes enforce any specific method of usage. I would also like to point out to Ian that this response, whilst clarifying the BBC's general position on 'rights-protected' content, goes no further in explaining the lock in to a niche device (for this BETA service at lease) nor why the BBC can stream DRM free content (even if it is as a stream) to the iPhone but not to other mobile (or other) platforms. As for focusing the debate, I would suggest that all this does is rule out any distribution of BBC content by people who download a stream (which is obvious anyway), it doesn't clarify as to whether I can happily pull the stream to a non iPhone device by making appear to be one or download the stream, watch it on a device not yet supported and then delete it (without distributing it first). Andy.
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