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OSC takes on BBC over Microsoft formats
By Mack Male | June 25, 2007 at 1:08 pm
You may have heard that the BBC recently decided to use the Windows Media format for its on demand service, called iPlayer. It seems that decision has come under fire from an advocacy group called the Open Source Consortium (OSC) who feel that the BBC is unfairly locking the public into Microsoft products. From The Register:
The OSC compared the situation to the European Commission’s prosecution of Microsoft over its bundling of Windows Media Player with Windows. That case was initiated in 2004 by complaints from other vendors, and resulted in European courts imposing a record fine on Redmond, which it is still appealing against.
The same situation that resulted in Windows XP Edition N? That version of the operating system, which ships without Windows Media Player, has been a complete dud with “roughly 1500 units shipped to OEMS, and no reported sales to consumers.” I don’t think the comparison is accurate at all. This is about DRM, not vendor lock-in.
The main reason the BBC decided to go with Windows Media, it seems, was because the format’s DRM features can enable content to become unviewable after 30 days. That was specified by the BBC Trust as a requirement for iPlayer. I am absolutely not a fan of DRM, and I think that’s a very unfortunate requirement indeed.
The OSC thinks DRM-free downloads would be more in the public interest, and I agree with them on that point. I think it’s a shame they have to spin the argument as “being locked in to Microsoft formats” however. The BBC could very well have chosen Apple’s DRM scheme if they had felt it would work for them.
The long and short of it is that the OSC should be fighting DRM, not Microsoft.
Tags: bbc, Codecs, DRM, microsoft, osc
Topics: Business, DRM |
June 29th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
[…] works” in the same sentence, at least not from the consumer’s point of view. Like the Open Source Consortium, I think Tim has picked the wrong enemy. Tags: bbc, drm, iplayer, microsoft, osc, windows […]
July 12th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
[…] (OSC) to discuss the group’s concerns with the forthcoming iPlayer application (see our previous post for details). Sources at [Ofcom] told The Register that although its formal role in the process […]
October 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I wonder what is your take and opinion on the BBC’s apaprent U turn in adopting flash video for Iplayer before the year end to avoid Antitrust action from the open source consortium and do you think the Open platform legislation from the EU could threaten the platform dependent windows media type.
This is not a dig at your blog, nor am I an adobe employee, but I’d be interested as to your comment as you have so openly discussed the BBC’s strategy.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Simon - thanks for the comment. I think it’s an interesting change indeed, but it’s important to remember that Flash support is limited to the browser. You’ll likely still have a better experience using Windows.