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British Groups Launch Creative Archive License

icerunner wrote in to mention that several British institutions have banded together to create the Creative Archive License. From the announcement: "BBC, Channel 4, British Film Institute and OU (Open University) issue call to action for Creative Archive Licence. Media and arts organisations, universities and libraries have today been urged to join an innovative new scheme designed to give the public access to footage and sound from some of the largest film, television and radio archives in the UK, as well as specially commissioned material." We've previously covered this as The BBC Creative Archive.

128 comments

  1. Copyrights... by timtwobuck · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Isn't this how copyrights in the US are supposed to work? Won't the same thing happen in the UK that happens over here, some large corportation (read Disney) keeps on spending and spending on lawyers to have the laws changed so their mascot can't be used in explicit material

  2. Two questions? by Flywheels+of+Fire · · Score: 5, Funny
    From WS on TFA:

    The Creative Archive is a product of this exciting era of digital media and the internet. It's possible because of innovations in technology and content licensing, along with editorial vision. However, it remains a challenging and complex project with many unknowns. To help us understand the best way to deliver the Creative Archive, we have decided to start with a pilot project.

    And that in English means?

    I wonder how long before the IFPI gets into the show.

  3. Europeans, listen up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    When will you ever learn that copyrights and patents are the way forward?

    1. Re:Europeans, listen up by rovingeyes · · Score: 2, Funny
      When will you ever learn that copyrights and patents are the way forward?

      When American's start suing their ass off

  4. Only for UK by m_dob · · Score: 5, Informative

    This service is only intended for people who have IPs in the UK. Finally, a reason to be proud to be a British geek...

    1. Re:Only for UK by JoaoPinheiro · · Score: 0

      Does using a bouncer count? xD

    2. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      No, the British geek can also be proud of the folowing: Tea, Stilton, Stephen Hawking, Fish & Chips, bangers and mash, Clauda Black & Farscape, and the list gose on and on

    3. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Clauda Black & Farscape

      Farscape was produced in Austrailia, the British are only responsible for it by proxy (just like the USA). I'm not sure about Claudia Black's citizenship or heritage though. Not that it makes much difference to the ability to enjoy her work though.

    4. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually it's only for people with IPs in the UK.... ...and geeks ANYWHERE who browse through anonymous proxies in the UK... *wink*

      -AC

    5. Re:Only for UK by r4bb1t · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Super. Another way to prevent me from getting (at least, in my opinion) less biased news from outside the US. I try to read/watch/listen to the BBC as much as I can here in the States, given that the US media doesn't so much cover the rest of the world. I would have looked forward to being able to sift through the archives to see what I've been missing.

    6. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Tea Tea is something you brought to Europe from India, you hardly invented it. Tea is also vastly inferior to coffee which is IMPOSSIBLE to get at acceptable quality in your country.

      Stilton A rip-off of rockford, a french cheese and, of course, vastly superior to blue stilton.

      Stephen Hawking The only thing worth being proud of so far.

      Fish and Chips and Bangers and Mash This is the reason other countries laugh at your culinary skills. You are the only empire that has ever existed on the face of the earth that didn't create a culinary style. An aberration!

      Claudia Black and Farscape You missed it there. But BBC2 was pretty cool in the nineties and your TV is second to none. Of course you have to bitch about paying for it. Fucking yobs...

    7. Re:Only for UK by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1

      Or you could go to news.bbc.co.uk and read/ listen/ watch BBC news live.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
    8. Re:Only for UK by gowen · · Score: 2, Informative
      A rip-off of rockford, a french cheese and, of course, vastly superior to blue stilton.
      Right... I'm gonna take cheese advice from a man who can't spell Roquefort.

      And whoo seems unaware that Stilton and Roquefort are made from cow's milk and sheep's milk, respectively. And because of that, do not actually taste terribly similar (roquefort is considerably sharper, and crumblier). Me, I prefer Shropshire Blue and Saint Agur.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    9. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tea is vastly superior to coffee, its just American tastes are too inferior to tell.

      Fish and Chips is the finest takeaway on the planet.

      Mod -1 Offtopic, -1 Flamebait, -10 anti-american

    10. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because Americans are the only ones who prefer coffee to tea? Because you can't get tea in America??? Dude you make no sense. So far today I've had a good coffee (not from Starbucks, but they'll do in a pinch, like when I'm in London) and a good mug of Oolong Tea.

    11. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't understand where this Coffee=American Tea=English thing came from. Both Coffee and Tea were being served in the "coffee/tea houses" of London for hundreds of years; before America even existed as a known landmass.

    12. Re:Only for UK by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 1

      In America you'll only get 2 BBC "channels". The first is the world service, which is as it says global and well the "world service".

      The other is BBC America which is a spin off which would also have the American spin on it..

      --
      I like muppets.
    13. Re:Only for UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you live in the Irish Republic and use UTv as your ISP, then you have a British IP. I know, because I keep getting ads targeted at Belfast, in spite of living in Dublin.

  5. How about Creative Commons by JoaoPinheiro · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Creative Archive = (Creative Commons) - (Derivate Works) + (UK Only) + (No Endorsement)

    1. Re:How about Creative Commons by GigsVT · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Creative commons lets you pick and choose which elements you want to use, this license is an all or nothing thing, but it was obviously inspired by creative commons.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    2. Re:How about Creative Commons by BandoMcHando · · Score: 1

      Not quite. More like: Creative Archive = (Creative Commons) + (Derivate Works) + (UK Only) + (No Endorsement) As the article does say that derivative works must be also be licensed with the Creative Archive License (sound familiar?)

    3. Re:How about Creative Commons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ironically, the reason so many people worked so hard on the CC license was so that you could write a handful of these equations down and they could work.

      You can't just do it randomly.

  6. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not Your-hive, silly. It's Arhive!

  7. Another step by sellin'papes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The next step is to license the archives under the Creative Commons license so that the footage in the archive could be altered by anyone and then recirculated.

    --
    This is my last post.
    [6th Estate]
    1. Re:Another step by John+Bokma · · Score: 1

      Then you should read a bit up about the Creative Commons: by-nc-nd

    2. Re:Another step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's pretty much exactly what the creative archive license does say already. read it.

      The license doesn't allow commercial exploitation of derivative works without permission, that's all. If you make something and want to sell it rather than give it away then you have to contact the original rights holders and get permission. That's not unusual. One major aim of the archive is to provide an education resource for kids or students who want the footage for making video essays for instance.

      The Creative Archive license differs from the Creative Commons license only because the situation that broadcasters find themselves in when trying to basically open source their material is that there already incredibly complicated licensing restrictions in place on almost all their material. An example given to me by a BBC producer that may illustrate the point is that a Horizon program he produced featured an interview with a Japanese woman who's sone had died of AIDS. She agreed to the interview only on the reassurance that the program would never be broadcast in Japan. This is effectively means it's impossible to license the program. This kind of agreement is not at all unusal, and means that when they're trying to open up their material they have to have people going over every part of a program with a fine tooth comb to make sure that they're not infringing someone elses rights while doing it. It can get expensive. For instance, it's almost certain that they wouldn't have the right to re-distribute any part of a program that they has licensed music over it, when the program was made the producers will only have bought rights to the music for showing on television, often with terriorial clauses, or with reciprocals attached. This music would have to be removed from the program before it could be released with an open license. That kind of thing costs a lot of money and time.

      Another complexity is that the BBC is not allowed to "unfairly compete" with the private sector. This is rather irritating, because it means that they have to be very careful not to do anything that would be undermining the commercial marketplace - if they give away all their science and natural history programs (which are arguable the best in the world) for free then the Discovery Channel can complain that they're unfair competition. This is a rather irritating legal situation with the BBCs charter which greatly limits what they can do with their web presence - in my opinion the greater public good should come first, rather than the rights of some companies to make money, and the BBC should be free to compete, but I don't expect this situation will change for a while.

      The BBC are trying to make sure that their production contracts from here on are more friendly to open licensing, but it's a LOT more complicated than simple putting their old tapes on the net. If they could there are many people at the BBC who would like to open up everything they make - after all the BBC as an institution is set up for the public good - but the legal complexities mean it's going to be quite a long time before that dream is possible. However the importance of this launch is that it is a very public signal that the BBC (and the other partners) are fundamentally committed to trying to open up as much as they can, and they should be applauded for that.

  8. Confused by pete19 · · Score: 1

    Does this mean that I can get access to TV shows without paying a TV license? How does this actually work?

    --
    There is nothing more practical than a good abstract theory.
    1. Re:Confused by CapeMonkey · · Score: 1

      No. You can only access it from Britain. The BBC is publicly funded so British citizens have already paid their license fee.

      There will probably be ways around the Britain Barrier, as I believe it is going to be based on your IP.

    2. Re:Confused by Neeex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Of course, it's perfectly possible to live in Britain and not have a TV licence - as long as you don't watch TV.

      And limiting access by IP is dangerous. As a result of my ISP buying its broadband wholesale from a large European business ISP, I'm living in England, but my IP addresses always seem to come from the German address space.

      --
      All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand.
    3. Re:Confused by yotto · · Score: 1

      No, it just gives them another reason to charge you a TV license if you have a computer in your house.

    4. Re:Confused by arkhan_jg · · Score: 1

      Current shows will likely not end up in the archive yet, just older material, so you'll still need a TV licence if you own a TV.

      Still, since the BBC alone owns a truly big archive, this should become a really useful tool for education.
      Just imagine the benefit for history departments for example - free and open use of news and documentaries for student projects. Art will be another massive beneficiary, as they can reshoot or study BFI films freely and easily.

      Hell, online downloading and sharing of the Open University teaching materials would be great, instead of taping shows broadcast in the early hours of the morning.

      --
      Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
  9. Playing to the Long Tail by jessmeister · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This really plays into The Long Tail scenario that is so often spoken of these days. I wonder how long before the major portals starts making deals with these owners of massive amounts of content. When a revenue model is established around this release of content we will see things really pick up. I am betting on instream advertising as the way they do it.

  10. Very ex-Catherdra by ites · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's fine for licensing an archive that is unlikely to change.

    But if the intention is to create a living culture, restrictions on use are counter-productive.

    What the license says is "you can use our stuff". What a really far-sighted license says is "here are a set of rules for creating stuff. Oh, and our stuff falls under these rules too."

    For instance, why ban commercial use? To prevent competition? Sure... but competition is what makes the living culture.

    It'd be far more valuable to allow commercial use of - e.g. old BBC broadcasts - so long as the vendors also made their derived products freely available under the same conditions.

    --
    Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
    1. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by gowen · · Score: 5, Insightful
      It'd be far more valuable to allow commercial use of - e.g. old BBC broadcasts
      The BBC makes an enormous amount of money repackaging and reselling its old programs. There's simply no way they'd allow others to undercut them on stuff they've spent a lot of money on producing (and since we Brits are paying for the BBC, I support them thoroughly on this.)

      I think their ideas are pretty well thought out (and not massively dissimilar from how Lucas allows his universe to be used for non-commercial fan films).
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    2. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by TobascoKid · · Score: 2, Interesting

      For instance, why ban commercial use? To prevent competition? Sure... but competition is what makes the living culture.

      Because the majority, if not all, the content has been payed for by the British taxpayer. Why should the taxpayer foot the bill for somebody's commercial use of the material?

      However, the BBC and C4 already have extensive commercial operations - the idea being that commercial users would pay for what they use and then that money gets sent back into the public services.

      --
      At some point, somewhere, the entire internet will be found to be illegal.
    3. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by Morosoph · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Because the majority, if not all, the content has been payed for by the British taxpayer. Why should the taxpayer foot the bill for somebody's commercial use of the material?
      Because the taxpayer gets extra utility for no extra funds, which means, of course, that they don't foot the bill, for the bill's already been paid!
    4. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by ites · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If the archive is open for free access, no-one is actually going to pay a premium for commercial versions of it.

      People will pay for additional services provided over and on top of the existing material. This is what I call a "living culture". But many people won't provide such services gratis. There has to be at least the possibility of reward.

      So banning commercial reuse is actually pointless - because the free archive is already a flat competitor to the Beeb's existing commercial sale of those programmes - and counter-productive - because it turns many potential contributors away.

      --
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    5. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by gowen · · Score: 1
      If the archive is open for free access, no-one is actually going to pay a premium for commercial versions of it
      Well, thats not true because the archive is *not* freely available to anyone outside the UK. We get it for free because (in the case of the BBC, at least) we've already paid for it. Everyone else has to pay.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    6. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by ites · · Score: 1

      Hold on... so individuals and non-profit organisations can take content, use it, and share it, but only within the UK?

      LMAO - this is like putting your cat outside and telling it to stay away from the birdie.

      Seriously... the content, being freely available, will without the slightest hesitation be spread across the four corners of the internets.

      This being self-evident, I start to doubt the sanity of the architects of this license.

      --
      Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
    7. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by gowen · · Score: 2, Insightful
      will without the slightest hesitation be spread across the four corners of the internets.
      Well, yeah. But anything they release on DVD -- even with the most restrictive licenses you can imagine -- will get spread to the four corners of the internets. Ask the MPAA.

      There's no way they can control illegitimate copying and distribution, but that's not actually the issue here.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    8. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by gowen · · Score: 1
      Because the taxpayer gets extra utility for no extra funds
      But if the use is commercial would that not imply that the taxpayer is going to have to find extra funds for the utility? Is that not what "commercial use" means?
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    9. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by TobascoKid · · Score: 1

      Because the taxpayer gets extra utility for no extra funds, which means, of course, that they don't foot the bill, for the bill's already been paid!

      Ok, let's explain how this works:

      1) I (and most of the rest of the population of the UK) give the BBC around 110 pounds a year (we have little choice in this, you either pay it or you can't watch tv/watch tv but end up in jail). The BBC uses this money to make content.

      2) The BBC turn around and release some of this content back to UK taxpayer, so that the UK taxpayer can do creative things with the content that they have paid for.

      Now with commercial use of this material, with absolutly no pay back to the BBC (and hence the taxpayer) as the OP wanted, would mean that when the commercial user sells me the content, then I end up paying again for something I have already paid for and yet the commercial user hasn't paid anything.

      Also note, while the Creative Archive License doesn't allow commercial use, it doesn't mean that commercial use licenses don't exist - the BBC has a commercial arm that specializes in licenseing content. So if somebody did want to release a commercial product they can, they just have to pay to do so. And that payment would go back to the BBC and help in the BBC's funding.

      --
      At some point, somewhere, the entire internet will be found to be illegal.
    10. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by TobascoKid · · Score: 1

      Hold on... so individuals and non-profit organisations can take content, use it, and share it, but only within the UK?

      from looking at the site, that's not exactly what is meant by UK only - it is meant to be primarily for UK, so you need to be based in the UK to access the archive. It doesn't go so far as to say that people who release works based on content in the archive have to limit those works to the UK.

      --
      At some point, somewhere, the entire internet will be found to be illegal.
    11. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by Morosoph · · Score: 1
      But if the use is commercial would that not imply that the taxpayer is going to have to find extra funds for the utility? Is that not what "commercial use" means?
      This is true, but the utility will be cheaper, by virtue of the subsidy. The advantage to the taxpayer would be that others would be building upon higher quality product, so that they get indirect benefit.
    12. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by Morosoph · · Score: 1
      Now with commercial use of this material, with absolutly no pay back to the BBC (and hence the taxpayer) as the OP wanted, would mean that when the commercial user sells me the content, then I end up paying again for something I have already paid for and yet the commercial user hasn't paid anything.
      Ah, but we do get something: the programming that we paid to be made is now available through other channels, so we don't need to be at the set at a particular time. Also, if the BBC are doing their job, the quality of the original will be high, thus pushing up the quality of derivative works, and indeed of competing works. This strikes me as excellent value for money.

      In addition, the subsidy will be competed away, meaning that those other channels will be that bit more accessable to us all.

    13. Re:Very ex-Catherdra by CrosbieFitch · · Score: 1

      There's no problem with commercial use really, because if anyone can sell something that has been produced from something that is free, then they have patently added value, and justly deserve remuneration for the value they've added.

      If you believe they've added no value, then you don't buy it. No-one's forcing you to.

      However, you don't have a right to someone else's work for free simply because you commissioned the original art upon which they based their derivative.

  11. Boy...talk about soundcards by LegendOfLink · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Gee, Creative has their hands full lately...first Creative Commons, now Creative Archive. It used to be tradition to stick with a brand name for a while, like Live! or Audigy...

    I still remember waiting in line to buy a SoundBlaster 16! Boy, those were the days!

    ;)

  12. Led Zeppelin! by maxphunk · · Score: 1

    My hope is that this will free up some Led Zeppelin footage, but I don't think the ghost of Peter Grant would let that happen.

    --

    "The chief enemy of creativity is 'good taste'" -Pablo Picasso
    1. Re:Led Zeppelin! by maxphunk · · Score: 1

      Whoops... The link should be http://www.led-zeppelin.com/EMpeter.html

      --

      "The chief enemy of creativity is 'good taste'" -Pablo Picasso
  13. The influence of Open Source by ISoldMyLowIdOnEbay · · Score: 1

    This can only be good, although I await the actual content - it will be interesting to see what is released.

    This is clearly down to the philosophy of Open Source (or however you like to phrase it, depends if you are RMS or not) - people outside of IT are starting to see everyone being able to contribute to improving things as a good idea, using the power of the internet to form communities.

    Maybe it will spread to real Engineering too - not just the software variety? Or is there a point at which commercial methods are always going to be the way? It will be interesting to see....

    1. Re:The influence of Open Source by n0dnarb · · Score: 1

      I think it's a bit of a conceit to say that "people outside of IT" are just realizing that open source has a lot of positive aspects to it. It's not that they don't see the benefits, it's that they would like to take advantage of it while still making money (and I'm not knocking them for making money), hence the "Creative Archive License"

    2. Re:The influence of Open Source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      This is clearly down to the philosophy of Open Source (or however you like to phrase it, depends if you are RMS or not)

      Have you ever actually LISTENED to what RMS is saying? The difference between open source and free software isn't in which words you use, there are actual, significant differences between the two philosophies.

      Open source is about improving the quality of service through an open development model. Free software is about providing the user with freedom to do what they like with their software. There are overlaps, but they have different goals.

      All you do when you refer to RMS' points as mere differences in phrasing is prove that you've heard the argument, but it went in one ear and out the other without you understanding it.

    3. Re:The influence of Open Source by JoaoPinheiro · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Yeah, it certainly is. It seems like things are getting back to the way they were before crazy patent and copyright laws started coming around.

      This is what leads to development and evolution.
      Current patent and copyright laws only lead to the development of monopolies (which in turn lead to stagnation - no competition, no need to evolve).

    4. Re:The influence of Open Source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you should listen to RMS? "Do what they like with their software" I don't think the GPL says that...

  14. How many do we need...? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    [put your name here] Creative License

  15. But what about satire by j()nty · · Score: 4, Interesting
    From the summary

    The Creative Archive content is provided to allow you to get creative with content, not for campaigning, soapboxing or to defame others! So don't use it to promote political, charitable, or other campaigning purposes and remember to treat others and their work in the way that you'd expect them to treat you and your work...with respect!

    But if I want to satirise a piece covered by this license the original author could get all huffy and claim that I am defaming them.

    Let the lawyers arguments begin...

    1. Re:But what about satire by Aliks · · Score: 1

      test to see what karma does, sorry

  16. Makes Me Proud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yeah, I'm so proud to be British at seeing this news.

    Also proud to be paying my fee to the BBC. The quality and integrity of our media is improved and upheld over and over again because of their unique position and charter.

    I wonder what formats will be used to distribute it though - will it be Mpeg or perhaps the new system the BBC have been devloping? So long as it's not WMV or RealMedia like the BBC currently seem to offer then I'll be happy!

    1. Re:Makes Me Proud by nogginthenog · · Score: 1

      The BBC are only offering WMV/RealMedia because they are currently the only widely available low-bitrate streaming formats. They don't want to use these formats as they have to pay Real/MS license fees - which is exactly why they are developing their own video compression system.

    2. Re:Makes Me Proud by gowen · · Score: 1
      The BBC are only offering WMV/RealMedia because they are currently the only widely available low-bitrate streaming formats
      And it's not as if the vast majority of WMV/AVI can't be converted into MPEGs. transcode and mencoder are your friends.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    3. Re:Makes Me Proud by Ciaran_H · · Score: 1

      Whatever it is, I'm glad that they won't be using DRM.

  17. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a low user ID.

  18. Does this mean... by iridium_ionizer · · Score: 1

    I won't have to shell out 150USD to get the Monty Python's Flying Circus DVD set? Or does Creative Archive License mean that someone can't use the footage for commercial purposes (at least legally), but can make plenty of student films with the footage?

    1. Re:Does this mean... by TobascoKid · · Score: 1

      I won't have to shell out 150USD to get the Monty Python's Flying Circus DVD set? Or does Creative Archive License mean that someone can't use the footage for commercial purposes (at least legally), but can make plenty of student films with the footage?

      Seeing as it explicity disallows commercial use, plus the fact that the material is primarily intended for use in the UK, I'd say you're out of luck.

      --
      At some point, somewhere, the entire internet will be found to be illegal.
  19. downloads will be limited to UK only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Note that all the files will be restricted by IP. Meaning that outside the UK, we won't be able to download anything (without a UK based proxy)

    from the faq: The Creative Archive will not be using DRM around the content. The BBC's pilot site will be using a technology called GEOIP filtering to ensure that content sourced directly from the BBC will only be available to UK citizens.

    1. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by CrosbieFitch · · Score: 0, Troll

      So brain dead! So petty.

      Ooh, we can't let anyone outside the UK see it...

      Well, the US was first:

      UK and other non-US people can't look at this site:
      http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/

      Boo hoo!

      Unless of course you go via a proxy, e.g.:
      http://www.the-cloak.com/Cloaked/+cfg=32/ht tp%3A// www.sho.com/site/ptbs/home.do

      Won't these people ever learn???

      The Internet is a bloody network, not a geographically located exhibition hall!

    2. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Because the Brits already paid for it in license fees. What's it like having a peanut for a brain?

    3. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by stratjakt · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Then maybe the Brits need their own private distribution methods (ie; their TV sets), rather than trying to carve up the Internet a la the Great Firewall of China?

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    4. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Won't these people ever learn???

      They know it won't work, just like the govt knows that ID cards won't improve security. That's not the point - the point is to make those that don't know it won't work (i.e. most people)...happy!

    5. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by CrosbieFitch · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Since when did commissioned art automatically become forbidden to those who did not participate in its commissioning?

      That is the thinking that comes from having a sesame seed as a brain (similar to a peanut brain, but when squashed has a nicer tasting oil extract).

    6. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by Slashcrap · · Score: 1

      The Internet is a bloody network, not a geographically located exhibition hall!

      Didya pay for the creation of any of the content?
      No? Then tough shit.

      Of course, they could setup a scheme whereby Americans could pay to download the content.

      Unfortunately, the drawback is that your currency is so completely fucked that all you would be able to afford is the first 3 frames of a 25 year old Dr Who episode.

    7. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by tepples · · Score: 1

      Since when did commissioned art automatically become forbidden to those who did not participate in its commissioning?

      Since the copyright law was changed to make copyright something that automatically comes into being upon fixation of a work in a tangible medium rather than something you have to file for.

    8. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by aslate · · Score: 1

      Won't these people ever learn???

      I think they're going to know that these things aren't foolproof, and it's really simple to use a proxy. The point is that 95% of people don't even know what a proxy is, let alone how to use one. It'll stop a large number of non-techy people outside the UK downloading content.

    9. Re:downloads will be limited to UK only by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

      'a UK based proxy' - like - for instance - highly-focused english-english translations on google.co.uk?

      --
      copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  20. Rip It Mix It TV (shudder) by DumbSwede · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I like the idea of free access to media. I'm not sure about the idea of Cuisinarting this stuff into derivative materials. Don't get me wrong I'm not opposed to creativity, early sound sampling in music was used to great advantage, but it seems like we've entered an age of endless recycling when it comes to media. Even when not reusing the original material directly (as is so common in music) we are re-shooting it. I just watched Dennis Quaid in "Flight of the Phoenix" last night. Wow, here is a remake that didn't need to be. The original was much better. There was nothing even approaching the famous maniacal laughing scene when it is discovered the engineer designs model airplanes. But I digress.

    Perhaps the idea is to encourage independent documentary style work, but I still shudder at the idea of hundreds of avant-garde like film stuttering remixes of old stuff. Call me old fashioned but I just want to see good stories told in film and video. I hate "Reality TV" and now I may have to suffer through the advent of "Rip It Mix It TV"

    Hopefully people will limit them selves to intermittent flashes of things like train-wrecks and other visual punctuation marks with this stuff, but it is unclear to me where this is all going.

    One thing does seem certain -- production costs for creating quality content should continue to drop for independents. At some point big budget TV and Hollywood will have a problem keeping up, and this I am for.

    1. Re:Rip It Mix It TV (shudder) by n0dnarb · · Score: 1

      ...and now I may have to suffer through the advent of "Rip It Mix It TV" Well I'm sure the probability of some unknown filmmaker's work taking over the timeslot of whatever derivative sitcom is relatively low. From what I've seen so far we need to worry about overuse and recycling of the same tired old ideas from the major studios rather than the independent studios (and the true independents, the guys working for free in basements). Hopefully this sort access, as well as true Creative Commons access, can become more and more widespread. And not everyone is as erudite as you in the cinema..... There was nothing even approaching the famous maniacal laughing scene when it is A SPOILER

  21. Geek based FAQ by briqui · · Score: 1
    1. Re:Geek based FAQ by nogginthenog · · Score: 1

      Yes, from Usenet, or bittorrent, or ...

  22. BBC Creative Archive reference articles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Since Slashdot is visited mostly by Americans, I shall supply some reference articles discussing the BBC Creative Archive (which was basically an idea presented by BBC's ex-director general Greg Dike suggesting to regroup and distribute all of BBC's past, present and future media under the Creative Commons licence).

    A whole bunch of other articles are available.

  23. #4: No Endorsement and No derogatory use? by adamfranco · · Score: 3, Insightful

    4. No Endorsement and No derogatory use
    The Creative Archive content is provided to allow you to get creative with content, not for campaigning, soapboxing or to defame others! So don't use it to promote political, charitable, or other campaigning purposes and remember to treat others and their work in the way that you'd expect them to treat you and your work...with respect!


    This license seems pretty decent except for this part. Who gets to decide what is derogatory or an endorsement?

    For instance, lets say I am trying to raise money for a nonprofit program to get health care workers to poor women in rural Africa. As part of my fund-raising campaigning I do a screening of some BBC documentary from the archive on health care in rural Africa and ask people for donations. This seems like a pretty legitimate use of the material, but may prohibited by section #4.

    Now, what if I had a link to this supposed documentary from my example organizations website. Would that be endorsement? I view it as public education of the plight of a certain people that I wish to help. It would aid my position for getting donations though.

    --
    "When ideology and theology couple, their offspring are not always bad but they are always blind." -- Bill Moyers
    1. Re:#4: No Endorsement and No derogatory use? by gowen · · Score: 4, Insightful
      As part of my fund-raising campaigning I do a screening of some BBC documentary from the archive on health care in rural Africa and ask people for donations
      versus
      Don't use it to promote political, ***charitable*** or other campaigning purposes
      Seems pretty unambiguous to me.

      Don't ask for money. Don't ask for votes.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    2. Re:#4: No Endorsement and No derogatory use? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not even mindshare... and don't use it to promote any idea that anyone could find offensive either.

      In short: This license explicitly permits nothing.

  24. Fantastic! by The+Dodger · · Score: 2, Interesting
    This is cool for two reasons. First, this is extending the concept of open source to content which, even if it has been done before, has never been done on this large a scale.

    Secondly, it's a step towards the BBC making their programming available for download. The BBC produce a huge amount of programming and, while they make a fair amount of money out of selling DVDs, videos (stuff like Blackadder and Doctor Who) and tapes/CDs (e.g. the HHGTTG radio series), there's a heck of a lot of other stuff that it doesn't make commercial sense to publish in that manner - e.g. programmes like Horizon and Top Gear ).

    I bet the biggest problem with putting programmes like those on the Archive will be the licencing terms for stuff like incidental music and events rights (like for sports and so on), which are presumably all currently based on the concept of broadcast, with extra payments for repeats. I wonder if they'll have to strip out anything that's not the original, complete creation of the contributing organisations.


    D.

    1. Re:Fantastic! by aslate · · Score: 1

      ...there's a heck of a lot of other stuff that it doesn't make commercial sense to publish in that manner - e.g. programmes like Horizon and Top Gear ).

      I agree. I've been downloading lots of programmes off a torrent network that are BBC shows that they never released. Quite a few of them are OU programmes, so this fits the bill perfectly.

  25. LETS talk about soundcards by Werrismys · · Score: 1
    Soundblasters were pieces of manure.

    Really. They were really weak. Bad sound, bad manufacture quality, and in Windows era, really bad drivers.

    If you waited in line for SB16 you were a mindless sheep. Gravis Ultrasound was about a hundred times better card, and less prone to pick up humm from mobo/power supply/hard drives.

    --
    'Once scientists, even the dim-witted social scientists, get muzzled, the Western Civilization is finished.' - oldhack
    1. Re:LETS talk about soundcards by LegendOfLink · · Score: 1

      Baaa baaa baaa...I never had a problem with picking up hum, but good point on drivers -- always had problems with IRQ settings in DOS games...baaa baaa baaa

    2. Re:LETS talk about soundcards by Drooling+Iguana · · Score: 1

      Didn't the GUS also have an onboard MOD decoder?

      Of course, I just had an old ATI StereoFX (SB clone) until I got my AWE64 (which wasn't as impressive as I'd hoped, and was hell to set up in OS/2 or Linux.)

      --
      ... I'm addicted to placebos
  26. Proxy, anybody? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since this will only available to us Brits how long will it be before a whole host of proxies spring up to supply this content to the rest of the world?

    Imagine using Squid to download The Blue Planet.

    1. Re:Proxy, anybody? by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      Proxy?

      It'll just get thrown on kazaa, et al, like everything else.

      Once something is "free", it loses it's appeal to warez d00ds, though.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:Proxy, anybody? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And this is a good thing! I wish the BBC Creative archive would understand this.

      Believe it or not, the BBC is a big reason why Britain still punches way *way* above its weight in the world. The BBC has been broadcasting British values and genuinely fair and balanced news around the world (and especially into shithole dictatorships) for many years. It's represented everything that's good about openness, television and promoted Britain as a bastion of fairness and decency. It's not an easy thing to calculate the benefit to Britain of this because it's a subtle thing... but I'm guessing it's huge.

      You only have to look at how the BBC is regarded in the U.S. Despite the best efforts of poisonous vipers like Murdoch, for whom the values of BBC are an anathema.

    3. Re:Proxy, anybody? by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

      but it's nonetheless restricted

      --
      copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  27. P2P + UK only ? by sla291 · · Score: 0, Troll

    One thing doesn't make sense at all :

    Why can't I use material from the Creative Archive overseas?

    The Creative Archive is currently funded only for use within the UK. The BBC's pilot site will be using a technology called GEOIP filtering to ensure that content sourced directly from the BBC will only be available to UK citizens.

    Still, they plan to use P2P. Come on where's the GEOIP feature in BitTorrent ?

    1. Re:P2P + UK only ? by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      What about the rest of the commonwealth? What about Brits abroad?

      What if I, a Canadian living in the US, was willing to voluntarily pay the UK "TV Tax" for access to "Two Fat Ladies" reruns?

      Meh.. The internet's not supposed to work like this. Why don't the BBC and China, for that matter, set up their own private networks if they don't want outlanders hitting their servers?

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:P2P + UK only ? by pommiekiwifruit · · Score: 1
      Citizens? Residents shurely.

      UK citizens who live outside the UK (e.g. in Spain) don't pay a tv license fee.

      Foreign citizens who live inside the UK do pay a licence fee.

    3. Re:P2P + UK only ? by Slashcrap · · Score: 1

      Still, they plan to use P2P. Come on where's the GEOIP feature in BitTorrent ?

      I didn't see P2P or BitTorrent mentioned anywhere.

      Besides, if you wanted to restrict BitTorrent by geographical location you could just setup the tracker behind a firewall that only allows connections from approved IP ranges.

      Seems pretty obvious. And you call yourself a geek?

    4. Re:P2P + UK only ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Brits abroad" are abroad, and therefore don't pay for a license fee, and therefore have no right to have access to BBC programming.

      I don't see why everyone thinks this is so bad; if you don't pay the license fee, you SHOULDN'T receive BBC broadcasting, the BBC only exists because it's being paid for by UK citizens; "by the people, for the people" if you will ;-)

    5. Re:P2P + UK only ? by ozric99 · · Score: 1
      Meh.. The internet's not supposed to work like this. Why don't the BBC and China, for that matter, set up their own private networks if they don't want outlanders hitting their servers?

      Yeah, and while we're at it, how dare people use VPNs across the internet to stop unwanted people hitting their servers. How dare anyone encrypt anything - information wants to be free, right?

      Maybe, just maybe, this UK-only clause has something to do with letting those who've paid for the content test the system. You did read the bit that said that "the pilot site will be using a technology called GEOIP filtering to ensure that content sourced directly from the BBC will only be available to UK citizens", didn't you?

      They've started an open source video codec so viewers aren't going to be locked into QT, WMV, REAL etc, and they're not even using DRM! The things people find to moan about.. honestly!

    6. Re:P2P + UK only ? by TobascoKid · · Score: 1

      Meh.. The internet's not supposed to work like this. Why don't the BBC and China, for that matter, set up their own private networks if they don't want outlanders hitting their servers?

      You'd be surprised by how much "US only" content is out there. It's just that you don't notice it as you live in the US.

      Even sites that purport to be "international" aren't - eMusic, for example, has some tracks that can only be accessed by US based members.

      --
      At some point, somewhere, the entire internet will be found to be illegal.
    7. Re:P2P + UK only ? by aslate · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They have a FAQ entry saying this:

      I heard that Creative Archive will be using P2P technology. Isn't that illegal?

      So they are using P2P methods of distribution.

    8. Re:P2P + UK only ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, as someone who's paid a licence fee for the last 14 years (prior to emigrating last year) and a UK citizen, I'm disappointed.

      BBC programming is one of the few things I truly miss over here (the other being decent bacon ;) especially when compared with the tripe passes for TV content in the US and Canada.

      Mmm... bacon.

    9. Re:P2P + UK only ? by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      What are you talking about, Canada is where bacon comes from. Back-bacon or peameal bacon (whichever you want to call it) is the only true bacon.

      Bacon comes from the BACK of the pig, those little strips of fat you get in the US are SALTED SIDE PORK, and NOT BACON.

      I repeat, Bacon : Bac - on : BACK - on, bacon is back meat. Damnit.

      They sell this crap down here and call it "Canadian bacon", and I don't know what the fuck it's supposed to be. It's neither canadian nor bacon.

      After months of searching, I managed to find a local butcher who knows what bacon is, and how to cure it properly. If you're in the MD area, I'll hook you up.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    10. Re:P2P + UK only ? by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

      did they?

      --
      copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  28. Who's interest? by Morosoph · · Score: 1
    Ah, but if they were promoting the licence-payers' interests rather than their own as an institution, they would probably do better by removing some restrictions.

    True, they would the get less in the way of funds for other projects, but then the entity that would have otherwise have bought the material then has more in the way of funds to do the same themselves. A greater plurality of creators makes for greater creativity: just look at channel four!

    1. Re:Who's interest? by gowen · · Score: 1
      they would probably do better by removing some restrictions.
      Don't tell me, tell them. This is the start of a consultation period.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
  29. Penalties by SlothB77 · · Score: 0

    If a user violates the rules of this license, what are the penalties for violation?

    Is it revocation of the license and denial of future media or more or less; and who would be enforcing these rules and penalties? Does this have teeth?

  30. Sucks to be me by grahamsz · · Score: 1

    Paid my licence fee for years and then moved to the US.

    Fortunately i've got no less than 3 shell accounts in the UK :)

  31. Europeans ahead in Sonny Bono race to bottom by tepples · · Score: 2, Informative

    The European Union had a copyright term extension years before the United States had the Bono Act. In fact, the EU term extension directive re-copyrighted works that had already entered the public domain, unlike the Bono Act.

  32. Papers please by tepples · · Score: 1

    it's perfectly possible to live in Britain and not have a TV licence - as long as you don't watch TV.

    Not once most large computer monitors start coming with a DTV tuner built in.

    I'm living in England, but my IP addresses always seem to come from the German address space.

    You'd probably be able to sign up for a name and password based on some other sort of UK government-issued identification. (Do TV licences have numbers?) Using ID is rawther common among services with geographical limitations.

  33. And UK only to boot by tepples · · Score: 1

    This BBC licence would be equivalent to a hypothetical Creative Commons "by-nc-nd-ukonly" license, which currently doesn't exist to my knowledge. (Ironically, the GNU GPL allows the author of a covered program to add geographic restrictions.)

  34. No endorsement? Not so fast. by jbn-o · · Score: 1

    Prior to learning about the no endorsement section, I would have agreed with you. Now, I'm not so fast to conclude as you do. A good deal of the speech I make is political. I'd be disappointed to learn I had been paying BBC license fees ultimately to be told that I couldn't build on these works "to promote political, charitable, or other campaigning purposes".

    On the other hand, I've gained a newfound respect for the public domain and the importance of the preservation and growth of the public domain.

  35. Re:No endorsement? Not so fast. by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 1

    That's the public domain for you. As soon as you move something into a political arena it's no local public but it's propergander. Lets say we have a slip of a duck quacking and Labour use it as a slogan for their campaign. Every time we hear that duck it'll be "labour's duck" and then you can no longer claim it's public and free because to prevent others doing the same thing they would try and own the duck...

    well thats a fucked up post..

    --
    I like muppets.
  36. "UK" means "UK" not "worldwide"! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The definition of license within the license itself reads:
    "Licence" means this Creative Archive licence for use within the UK;
    If you're not in the UK, you've no license.
    "Share-Alike" means Sharing the Work and/or Derivative Work under the same terms and conditions as granted to You under this Licence;
    You have no license to a derivative work unless you're in the UK.

    Don't get me started on the stupid Endorsement clause...

  37. Feedback to the BBC by Morosoph · · Score: 1
    Share-alike is good: it undermines the kind of exploitation that I care abount. However, in many other respects, the licence is too strict; it promotes the interests of the BBC as an institution above those of the taxpayer. Helping your competitors, for example, would promote creativity a good deal more than having a non-commercial licence. Derogatory use is fair comment; much excellent art is a devivative work that the creator might not find palatable.

    I am aware that the BBC feel that they have a financial need to restict derivative works, for they resell much of their programming. But the money that isn't made isn't lost; it makes other channels more viable; indeed, it might push up the rest of the quality of their programming: a real service to the licence-payer! The UK restiction is probably justified for commercial ventures: few licence-payers live outside the UK, so it is reasonable to seek revenues upon those ventures. Non-commercial use beyond our shores has to be good, though: mixing our cultural output with that of others must be of great and mutual benefit.

  38. Not only no DRM... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    2.2.3 do not impose any terms and/or any digital rights management technology on the Work and/or Derivative Work that alter or restrict the terms of this Licence or any rights granted under it;


    The license explicitly does not allow DRM on derivative works.
  39. UK Citizens overseas? by nihaopaul · · Score: 1

    hmm i hope so or else!

  40. His? What about Mine? by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

    his universe! dammit, i want a universe all to myself (and the films that my fans make there).

    --
    copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  41. Foolish BBC online radio by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

    who, oh why did they choose real-player. could they have made a more foolish decision?

    --
    copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  42. US Only - Bloody iTunes by Flamsmark · · Score: 1

    and iTunes. we had to wait ages for it. and then we had to pay twice as many pounds as you do dollars (£1$2). the US is by no means an open web service.

    --
    copyright © 2005 Flamsmsmark the ravings of a melancholly i
  43. UK Only--Won't Work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've already made comments to the BBC about this: the UK only portion of the licence simply will not work.

    There is nowhere in the licence that says that only the BBC or other members of the Creative Archive Licence Group can host content. There is nowhere in the licence which says that IP filtering technologies like GEOIP have to be used on download servers.

    It would be quite possible for works to be downloaded from the BBC's servers by someone in the UK, and then uploaded to a public internet server in the UK which does not have IP address filtering technology. Provided that a copy of the licence is provided on the server, and people are forced to read it before downloading, then there is nothing physically to stop people from outside the UK getting hold of the material.

    It also says that no DRM can be placed on the copies, which also rules out a lot of potential blocking routes for non-UK use.

    For someone outside of the UK to download it would be breaking the terms of the copyright licence. However, there is no practical way to stop that happening. It is an unenforceable part of the licence.

  44. UKGOLD by dopeghost · · Score: 1

    with the emergance of cable tv in britain the bbc sold loads of its own content to ukgold who replay classic old tv - in some cases an entire season of a programme for 1 pound.

    - although co-owned by the bbc isn't that essentially giving your content to the competition?

    --
    This UID is 7651 digits too high to subjectively infer IQ from.