Binary Freedom has launched a new campaign called FreeTheBBC,
targeting the BBC's proposed DRM regime. The
BBC plans to offer old content only through Real or Windows Media DRM
technology. DRM, or Digital Restrictions Management, is technology that
artificially limits what users can do with media. Binary Freedom opposes
the BBC's use of DRM for several reasons. The BBC is meant to serve the
public trust, but in using DRM they are instead supporting private
enterprise at the cost of the public's rights. Users of free software
(like GNU/Linux) will be completely unable to use the DRM media with
free software. Everyone else will have their fair dealing (U.K. right
similar to fair use) rights eroded. For instance, it will be impossible
to extract a scene from an old show for writing a review or even for
personal study. Binary Freedom believes that the BBC should instead be
progressive, and join the growing vanguard of companies that are
supporting digital freedom by providing media without DRM.
