BBC. Downloads, and DRM #2

Received, to my astonishment, a response from the BBC trust re DRM. See below. Obviously, it's the content providers pushing for the DRM. Equally obviously, it's doomed to fail, like DVD regionalisation, FairPlay, the last Windows DRM Sky was using on their broadband service that got hacked...


Thank you for your email of 30 April 2007 to the BBC Trust regarding the BBC’s on-demand proposals. I am responding on behalf of the Trustees as I work in the Trust Unit which provides advice and support for the BBC Trust.

The Trust shares your view that BBC content should be available to all users, regardless of which operating system they have on their computer. Trustees noted the strength of feeling on this issue evident in the public consultation on the BBC's on-demand proposals.

As you are aware, under the BBC's current plans, one element of the on-demand proposals - catch-up television over the internet - will be available in the first instance only to users of Microsoft software. The Trust is requiring the BBC to make seven-day catch-up television available on a platform neutral basis within a reasonable timeframe.

I am sorry that you feel disappointed in the length of time required but there are real practical difficulties to achieving platform neutrality immediately.

The issue arises because of the necessity to apply digital rights management to enforce a time-based restriction on viewing. This restriction is a condition of third parties (such as independent producers and the music business) who hold rights in BBC content. Without their agreement, content could not be offered on-demand at all. Currently, only Microsoft's DRM system meets the requirement for a time-based restriction on viewing.

In order to achieve platform neutrality, the BBC is looking at possible DRM solutions which will work across different operating systems. But when these will be available is completely in the hands of the companies developing them, and not a factor the BBC can control.

So the Trust has taken the decision that, in the meantime, to allow the BBC to go ahead with seven-day catch-up television over the internet just with Microsoft DRM. The Trust's view is it is preferable to provide a service of significant public value now, to a majority of users, rather than wait until full platform neutrality can be achieved. But Trustees understand how frustrating this is in the meantime for people using other operating systems.

The Trust accepts the BBC Executive's assurance that it is fully committed to platform neutrality and working hard to achieve this. The Trust will hold the BBC Executive to account by auditing its progress every six months.

You can find more information on this issue on the Trust's website at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/closed_consultations/ondemand_pvt_faqs.html

I hope this information is useful to you.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Asher
BBC Trust Unit