Is it Illegal to download a Torrent of a BBC HD Program

[Buckster]

I'm sure it is- but wanted to know what others thought

BBC HD is free - but you have to pay to have a box either with Sky or Telewest to be able to receive it.

Now we don't have the right to distribute that HD content to others - but as a TV Licence payer - can we download to view once this HD material off a Torrent - as long as the source of the torrent was the originally aired material ... ?

Don't we as Licence payers pay for the generation of the content in the first place ? So why should we be limited to the fact we have to buy into Telewest or Sky HD ?

Now we don't have the right to keep the HD content forever - or say download a rip of the HD DVD or Blueray version of say Planet Earth when it comes out - but what about the original aired version ? Is it any different than say recording it off yourself ?

thanks, Mark.

[Badger0-0]

Good question

The Beeb own the copyright, so theoretically, you're thieving.
But you make a good point.
My take is that if you have a TV licence, I don't believe you'd be prosecuted.
Hardly good PR, when as you say, we effectively own it.
If you haven't got a licence, you could expect to be in trouble.
One point I would contend is why you can't keep it forever.
I've never heard of anyone in Britain being done for recording Beeb material.
They're only interested in getting the licence fee.

[Buckster]

thanks

not sure - why I said not the right to own it - was thinking that strictly PVRs/VCRs aren't legal are they ?

so if you downloaded it and then watched it once then deleted- why would it be any different than watching it off the TV ?

I was thinking along the lines of

"right to watch it" - but not the right "to own it" ?

Mark.

[Starburst]

You don't have to buy SKY hardware to watch the BBC HD broadcasts on satellite, you do have to subscribe to at least one service on cable to do so thanks to their carriage agreements and licensing from the government.

Well if you are using a torrent and uploading (as you would be default) you are distributing copyright material without the owners permission and as you say that's an offense.

Fair use applies when making a recording from a source you are entitled to receive however it's more of a grey area if you claim an illegal copy distributed with permission and aquired by yourself falls into the catagory.

[pack man]

Its not illegal to download any TV program Another daft "law" that will never be enforced.

[IanS]

Originally Posted by pack man

Its not illegal to download any TV program Another daft "law" that will never be enforced.

Er, it is if you (or more correctly, the person hosting it) do not have the copyright owner's permission. And don't be so certain that the law would "never" be enforced.

[Hi-Def]

would be illegal to upload it since its distributing copyright material without permission

but if you download it for strictly personal use then i think you wouldnt get done for it and tbh how would they catch you burst in on your watch it on your TV!!!!

unless your selling what you download i think its fair to assume they wont come after you its only the people that then distribute the material there after