[Free-sklyarov-uk] "Attack of the Cyber Pirates" - first impressions

[Chris Lightfoot]

On Wed, Jul 17, 2002 at 08:59:27PM +0100, Andrew Rendle wrote:
> I watched (and recorded, so I can check quotes from it) the Money 
> Programme "Attack of the cyber Pirates" that's just finished on BBC2, 
> and I'll give my first impressions of it.
    [...]

Note that--

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/audiovideo/programmes/the_money_programme/newsid_2134000/2134313.stm

   The only links given are to the RIAA and IFPI; it seems
   to me that they should at least be linking to CDR!


2. The email address for the programme is

     money.programme at bbc.co.uk 

   I have written to request a transcript.


3. The BBC Agreement (an adjunct to its Charter),

     http://cgi.bbc.co.uk/info/BBCcharter/agreement/agree_06.shtml

   contains

     5.1 The Corporation shall do all it can to secure
     that all programmes broadcast or transmitted by or on
     behalf of or under licence from the Corporation as
     part of the Home Services:-

     (a) provide a properly balanced service consisting of
     a wide range of subject matter;
     
        [...]

     (c) treat controversial subjects with due accuracy
     and impartiality, both in the Corporation's news
     services and in the more general field of programmes
     dealing with matters of public policy or of political
     or industrial controversy, and do not contain ang
     material expressing the opinion of the Corporation on
     current affairs or matters of public policy other
     than broadcasting and matter contained in programmes
     which consist of proceedings in either House of
     Parliament or proceedings of a local authority or a
     committee of two or more local authorities;

        [...]

The last of these seems relevant. If, as your review and
the text of the programme's web page suggests, it
presented primarily the industry view without looking at
the issues of (e.g.) free speech and consumer rights, then
it seems to me that a complaint could reasonably be made.


Did the programme express appear to express any opinion on
the part of the BBC relating to its subject matter?

-- 
``I don't kill flies, but I like to mess with their minds.
  I hold them above globes.  They freak out and yell,
  `Whoa, I'm way too high'.''  (Bruce Baum)