BBC iPlayer and US Copywrite Law

[SinbadEV]

If I were to fake a UK IP Address to download episodes of BBC shows from http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... enth_Hour/ does that break any laws that anyone knows about?

[Regret]

Depends on whether you get caught.

Since 'faking' the IP will most likely require a proxy which is too much hassle for people to track, I'd say no.

[Relative]

That is an interesting question. Just speculation, but I don't think there is copyright violation or any other violation.

Copyright regulates the copies and distribution of copyrightable works. As the bbc is the owner of their copyrightable works they can freely distribute. You are accepting the work the bbc is freely (freely as in acting freely) distributing via the bbc iplayer.

In the UK the the BBC requires that you have paid your licence fee for a household to watch and listen to bbc programs if you own a device that can receive broadcasting signals (radio and TV) and it is configured to do so (connected to an antenna, cable box, etc...). They can legally enforce this with the licence fee laws - not copyright law. The bbc excludes overseas IPs because there are no licence fee payers outside the uk, they cannot enforce payment, and because it would negatively affect foreign revenues (this is not counting foriegn office supported projects like the World Service).

I don't believe that the communication laws actually extend to either overseas users or even to the bbc's internet services in general (including uk users) because they regard the regulation of devices that can receive broadcast signals in the UK, whereas we are talking about internet services and distribution internationally.

Also, doctor who is awesome, and I have high hopes for this season.

[FLOZi]

I have high hopes for Karen Gillan and my *****.

[AF]

BBC content outside the UK has to be licensed for distribution by the BBC trust for sale or showing by the commercial arm of the BBC

License fee payers automatically gain access to all BBC broadcasts as part of the TV license

[KaiserJ]

so umm... how do i bypass region locks on stuff like this? it really makes me rage sometimes. i've had it from the BBC, adult swim, and now my beloved VBS tv

[AF]

Im just as annoyed about not being able to watch Hulu

[Relative]

Im just as annoyed about not being able to watch Hulu

THIS

Well at least we have the bbc. Think about what someone on the continent must feel like.

[Sucky_Lord]

The real question is: Why would you want to download Doctor Who?

I hate the fact that they completely defy all laws of physics, totally, completely.

[FLOZi]

Karen Gillan defies the laws of hotness.

[Sausage]

I have high hopes for Karen Gillan and my *****.

[KDR_11k]

The BBC might try to use the DMCA on you but honestly I doubt they care.

[Spawn_Retard]

fuck me is the new dr. who assistant hot.


First two episodes were epic, but the whole revival of the darleks is getting way to old.

[AF]

The new daleks look strange, like they were made from a plastic mould

[KaiserJ]

i tried this thing called "Tor" to hide my ip address so i could watch region locked videos; it didn't work. plz deposit recent advances in this thread, i NEED to watch this documentary of mexican narco cinema

[KDR_11k]

Tor pretty much randomizes your IP, not useful if the site permits only a narrow range of IP addresses compared to the total pool. You'll need a regular proxy.

[Forboding Angel]

Im just as annoyed about not being able to watch Hulu

You guys can't watch hulu? Wow, that's g-h-e-y, gay.

Hulu is cool shit, even though they tend to have mostly older movies on there (which is ok, considering sometimes you see movies you forgot about).

[lurker]

You tried to use high-bandwidth content over the slowest network out there?



Also, copyright

[Das Bruce]

Yes. It sucks.

[Caydr]

Everything's illegal, you break the law a hundred times a day without even knowing it.

-Would you have bought the things you're downloading if they were available in a store for a reasonable price?
--If no, then you're breaking the law but it's a victimless crime.
--If yes, then are the things in question available in a store for a reasonable price?
---If no, then you're breaking the law but it's a victimless crime, and you'll probably just buy them later if you like them.
---If yes, then you're a goddamn thief. But it's British stuff, they're not real people.

I actually do something similar with a Firefox plugin that tricks Comedy Central sites into thinking I'm viewing their site from the 'States - all it really does is give me access to the shows a little faster and in better quality, no harm done. Maybe a simple fix like this would work for you too?

Unfortunately, doesn't work for Hulu...