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GEOBLOCKING, THE SCOURGE of many online users, could soon be banished to the scrapheap. Sort of.
The EU today unveiled its digital single market strategy, which among other measures would spell the end of companies shutting off access to online content based on users’ member states.
That practice, known as geoblocking, means customers can be stopped from watching some streaming video services overseas or shunted to local versions of online stores where prices are higher than in other European countries.
The European Commission said it wants to produce laws in the first half of 2016 to tackle “unjustified” geoblocking, which had “no equivalent in the offline world”.
You are not refused a product on the basis of your nationality when you physically go to a shop in another member state,” it said.
What’s on?
However when it comes to material like films and TV shows, any changes will come up against copyright hurdles which could mean some content still stays behind country-specific virtual walls.
Those blocks currently mean, for instance, that Irish users abroad in Europe are stopped from watching some RTÉ programmes online. Even viewers in Northern Ireland are prevented from watching certain shows and sporting events.
Similarly, BBC’s popular iPlayer users geoblocking to stop viewers from outside the UK watching all its programmes for free online.
While the commission has said it wants to “modernise” copyright laws, the plan appears to only extend to making paid-for content like digital downloads and subscription services accessible in all countries.
It was unclear how the changes would apply to free content, with the commission noting that funding in some audiovisual sectors relied on “territorial exclusivity” – which didn’t fall under its banner of unjustified geoblocking.
Film companies, in particularly, have been lobbying against any rule changes that would harm their distribution deals for individual countries by taking away their ability to set different release dates.
Andrus Ansip, the commission’s vice president for the digital single market, has previously complained about not being able to watch the same football matches in Brussels he would have access to in his native Estonia.
But he has also said the commission didn’t plan to do away with the system of “territoriality” for some content like film releases until they became available as video-on-demand downloads.
I would like to ask for cross-border access to the content and portability of the content, but it does not mean that we are wanting to destroy this principle of territoriality,” he said.
A commission spokeswoman told TheJournal.ie that increasing access to TV services streamed online and protected by copyright would be considered as part of the proposals.
Here are some other parts of the digital single market strategy:
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A serous post from me for a change. Last weekend my sister had to douse a girl who’s hair had caught fire in a pub. she lost quite a bit of hair but it could’ve been so much worse. I know candles create a nice cosy and intimate atmosphere but publicans and night club owners really need to think about where they put them, especially if they are expecting a large crowd.
well done to your sister! and i wish the man a speedy recovery.
Not always candles, there is always the “funny person” who decides to get his lighter out of the pocket for fun without realising how far their actions can go! There were no candles in that nightclub
there’s a pub in dun laoghaire that bizarrely leaves candles lined up on the stairs to the toilets
Fed up of Halloween here in Sligo last night the thugs were out in force terror inflicted on normal citizens.
Touch any of them any you would face a lawsuit.
I wish to god Halloween could be cancelled.
Interesting choice of words there Shamy. Elaborating upon that train of thought.. maybe next year you could get dressed up as well. I know where you can get a good deal on a Jimmy Savile costume. That’ll learn ‘em!
Apparantly he was set alight as opposed just catching fire.
That would explain the Garda investigation.
Eh, you essentially still did post it. And it was a crap forced pun anyway, so you must be pretty embarrassed right now.
Even the trick or treaters last night were a nightmare even with their parents they were kicking the door, demanding more sweets, no cheap sweets and then swearing. These are the future thugs of Halloween
I know what I’d be giving to anyone who had the balls to kick my front door.
If the do that open the door abd trough a bucket of water on them, trust me! They will never bother u again lol
does any one know if the fire retardant regulations that apply to clothes, apply to costumes here.
A man around the corner from us died yesterday. He fell down the stairs while trying to get a “Tigger” costume off. He apparently tripped over the tail at the top of the stairs. This all happened in front of his poor wife. RIP
R.I.P. very sad
Halloween was fine until a couple of young men decided to set off fireworks after 10 pm near our house. They’d walk to a nearby street and do same. They came back about 1 hour later for more. I’m sorry to hear people got hurt and even killed yesterday. My heart goes out to their families.
You’re right Sean. My bad. Delete first part of my comment.
baseball bat is a nice instrument
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