Comments on: BBC iPlayer is now DRM Free! http://understandinglimited.com/2007/12/13/drm-free-iplayer/ design & software freedom Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:19:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: sebnem http://understandinglimited.com/2007/12/13/drm-free-iplayer/comment-page-1/#comment-14498 sebnem Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:14:58 +0000 http://understandinglimited.com/2007/12/13/drm-free-iplayer/#comment-14498 <p>Hi, there was a limitied understanding, I think: Dave was raising the download vs. streaming point: "..he doesn't want to download anything beforehand unlike me, where I actually want to download the videos before I watch because they're saved on my PC then for subsequent viewing..."</p> <p>An I pointed out that there is a "play again" button for "subsequent viewing"</p> <p>Considering DRM both streams and downloads can be intercepted and the DRM cracked for piracy purposes... But if it is so easy to watch online why should anybody bother to buy pirate-DVDs on the street - hence, where there is no demand there is no market for piracy, hence no need for DRM...</p> <p>The music market is catching the clue train finally: that all you need is to provide an easy payment and a play button, then people stop to go through the hassle of finding friends who know how to find a bittorrent tracker and use it....</p> Hi,
there was a limitied understanding, I think:
Dave was raising the download vs. streaming point:
“..he doesn’t want to
download anything beforehand unlike me, where I actually want to download
the videos before I watch because they’re saved on my PC then for subsequent
viewing…”

An I pointed out that there is a “play again” button for “subsequent viewing”

Considering DRM both streams and downloads can be intercepted and the DRM cracked for piracy purposes… But if it is so easy to watch online why should anybody bother to buy pirate-DVDs on the street - hence, where there is no demand there is no market for piracy, hence no need for DRM…

The music market is catching the clue train finally: that all you need is to provide an easy payment and a play button, then people stop to go through the hassle of finding friends who know how to find a bittorrent tracker and use it….

]]> By: James Cridland http://understandinglimited.com/2007/12/13/drm-free-iplayer/comment-page-1/#comment-11068 James Cridland Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:21:36 +0000 http://understandinglimited.com/2007/12/13/drm-free-iplayer/#comment-11068 <p><i>Trying to get people to figure out for themselves why DRM is awful is key, I think.</i></p> <p>Well...</p> <p>I can watch or listen to anything I want to on the iPlayer just by hitting 'play' - on anything that has Flash on it. Additionally, I can download anything I want to on the (TV) iPlayer, as long as I run Windows and MSIE, like 85-90% of the UK, and watch it later, though I can't transfer it or anything like that.</p> <p>The download is only possible because of the DRM that the rights-holders insist on - given the choice between download-with-DRM or no-download-at-all, I'd rather be able to download files if I can. (It should be boringly pointed out that no, the BBC doesn't have the complete rights on its programmes - that would be prohibitively expensive).</p> <p>Most people want a product that "just works"; and even with DRM, for many people the iPlayer "just works". If you're asking to get rid of the download option altogether because it has the horror of DRM on it, I'm not sure that it's the best idea; but clearly, if nobody uses the download service any more then we'll all know, won't we? ;)</p> <p>In relation to your two questions:</p> <p><i>“Why can’t you copy music from your iPod to your computer? You know it is a portable harddisk, like the one on your desk for your backups, right? So why not?”</i> But <a href='http://www.google.com/search?q=copy+from+iPod+to+computer' rel="nofollow">you can</a>...</p> <p><i>“Why can’t you watch the iPlayer on your laptop when you are not online?”</i> But <a href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/' rel="nofollow">you can</a>...</p> Trying to get people to figure out for themselves why DRM is awful is key, I think.

Well…

I can watch or listen to anything I want to on the iPlayer just by hitting ‘play’ - on anything that has Flash on it. Additionally, I can download anything I want to on the (TV) iPlayer, as long as I run Windows and MSIE, like 85-90% of the UK, and watch it later, though I can’t transfer it or anything like that.

The download is only possible because of the DRM that the rights-holders insist on - given the choice between download-with-DRM or no-download-at-all, I’d rather be able to download files if I can. (It should be boringly pointed out that no, the BBC doesn’t have the complete rights on its programmes - that would be prohibitively expensive).

Most people want a product that “just works”; and even with DRM, for many people the iPlayer “just works”. If you’re asking to get rid of the download option altogether because it has the horror of DRM on it, I’m not sure that it’s the best idea; but clearly, if nobody uses the download service any more then we’ll all know, won’t we? ;)

In relation to your two questions:

“Why can’t you copy music from your iPod to your computer? You know it is a portable harddisk, like the one on your desk for your backups, right? So why not?” But you can…

“Why can’t you watch the iPlayer on your laptop when you are not online?” But you can…

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