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Project FAQs
All about the Creative Archive…
What is the Creative ArchiveWhat’s the big deal?
Where can I find the Creative Archive?
How much will it cost to use it?
Where's the content for me to download?
What format will material be available in?
Will it include audio?
Will I be able to get old Dr Who episodes?
I heard that Creative Archive will be using P2P technology. Isn't that illegal?
Will the Creative Archive use DRM?
Can I download Radio 4 programmes from the Creative Archive to my iPod?
How do I request a certain type of programming be made available?
How do I join the Creative Archive Licence Group?
…. And the Licence you’ll need to use it
What is this licence I hear so much about?Why don't you use a Creative Commons Licence?
Why can't I use material from the Creative Archive overseas?
What is the Creative Archive?
The Creative Archive is a BBC led initiative to provide access to public service audio and video archives in a way that allows the British public to find, share, watch, listen and re-use the archive as a fuel for their own creative endeavours. In other words, you can rip, mix and share the BBC.
What's the big deal?
The Creative Archive is significant because for the first time it will be possible for the public to freely access and 'own' a copy of a big slice of British culture that they can use as part of their own creations.
Where is the Creative Archive?
We're in the process of building it! The Creative Archive Licence Group members plan to make copyright-cleared programming available to create a free library of footage for you as members of the British public to get creative with - to rip, mix and share. You can find out more about the timescale here.
How much will it cost to use it?
If you are using the archive for your own not-for-profit personal and/or not-for-profit educational use, and you are not using the material to endorse your work, then you will not have to pay to use the Creative Archive. There’s more about the terms on which you can use the Creative Archive here.
Where's the content for me to download?
We haven't released any content from the BBC's archive yet. We’re working closely with rights organisations to clear and make available audio and video for you to download and get creative with.
You can find more details about when material will become available and how to use it here.
What format will the archive be available in?
Initially we intend to use three formats. Quicktime, Windows Media and MPEG1. The research that we’ve done indicates that these three will hit the widest spread of users throughout the UK across the widest spread of operating systems and editing applications. If you just want to download and watch, then one of these three will work for you too.
We hope that we can build some consensus in deciding how to proceed with future formats, and that’s why we’re inviting your feedback on these and other important issues for the Creative Archive.
Tell us whether our formats are right for you.
We aren’t using Real because although it’s fine for streaming media, it’s not a format suitable for downloading and editing.
Will it include audio?
Yes, and we’d like you to you to tell us what kind of audio you want to see in the Creative Archive,so please send us your views.
Will I be able to get old Dr Who episodes?
Sadly you will not be able to get old Dr Who episodes in the early days of the Creative Archive. However, it is hoped that the BBC will in time be able to expand its contribution to the Creative Archive to include programmes from all genres.
I heard that Creative Archive will be using P2P technology. Isn't that illegal?
Peer to Peer (P2P) distribution technologies are certainly one of the technologies that will make it possible for large files to be sustainably distributed online and therefore of great interest to the Creative Archive. The good news is that the technology is not illegal. When used for the distribution of legally licensed material, it provides an efficient and cost effective means of sharing and distributing content on the internet.
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Will the Creative Archive use DRM?
The Creative Archive will not be using DRM (Digital Rights Management) around the content that might restrict the way you access or use it. The BBC's pilot site will be using a technology called GEOIP filtering to ensure that content sourced directly from the BBC will only be available to UK citizens.
Can I download Radio 4 programmes from the Creative Archive to my iPod?
We haven’t plans to include Radio 4 programmes yet but you can listen to a selection of BBC radio programmes, including Radio 4 programmes, from the last seven days via the radio player application on the BBC’s website. You will need to have a program called RealPlayer installed on your computer but this is free to download. Check bbc.co.uk/radio for more details.
You can also watch clips from a wide range of BBC programmes including BBC News reports, sports footage and EastEnders at various sites within bbc.co.uk. These clips are rights-protected and are not available for download.
As for Podcasting, the BBC is to podcast several radio shows including sections of Radio 4's Today programme, In Business, From Our Own Correspondent, In Our Time and The Reith Lectures as part of a download trial ongoing until the end of the year.
How do I request a certain type of programming be made available?
Send us feedback and tell us what you’d like to see in the Creative Archive, your views are esssential to help us make this project a true public service. We will read all emails we receive and although we are not able to respond every one, we will be carefully recording and reacting to your views. We will also be including a selection of your feedback in our regular newsletters so by subscribing you can keep up to date with the debate.
How do I join the Creative Archive Licence Group?
Applications are invited from national broadcasters, archives and other bodies or commercial organisations managing audio, moving and still images who have a commitment to public service and user interaction and wish to share content with the public on the same terms. They must be committed to the process of improving the service to the user and will meet monthly.
If your organization is interested in joining the Creative Archive Licence Group and could work within the legal framework then please email us at creativearchive@bbc.co.uk.
All about the Licence you’ll need to use the Creative Archive
What is the Creative Licence?
The Creative Licence contains the legal rules that you must comply with in order to use the materials in the Creative Archive. You can find much more information on the licence here.
Why don't you use a Creative Commons Licence?
The Creative Archive Licence is heavily inspired by the Creative Commons Licences. However, public service organisations within the UK have additional requirements that need to be reflected in the terms under which they licence material. The two most obvious of these are the UK only requirement and the No Endorsement requirement. In addition, the Creative Archive licence seeks to protect the Licensor's moral right of integrity, that is, the right not to have a work treated in a derogatory or objectionable way
Why can't I use material from the Creative Archive overseas?
The delivery of content in the Creative Archive is paid for by the organisations who supply it. They are funded with public money to serve the UK population, and therefore they are restricted from subsidising services to overseas audiences.