The BBC are testing a new service whereby it’ll be possible to download TV content from the previous seven days over the internet. This is a great idea. Unfortunately they are currently committed to using a broken, DRM-based system that only works on Windows XP. There are a whole host of reasons why this is a bad idea (some of which are outlined and linked to from this brief report at the Open Rights Group site). The main reason I object is the fact that it locks out license payers who do not use or have access to this particular expensive and proprietary operating system, or choose not to use it for security, ideological or other reasons.

So, if you are a British citizen and BBC license fee payer, please consider signing the iPlayer petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk.