The Wardman Wire

Rachel North is wondering whether it is OK to listen to a show recorded from the Internet:

Does anyone know a way to *capture the show so I can listen to it after the 7 day period has ended?

This is the non-technical, “this is probably OK” answer. A full answer would take a long article. I’m extending the question to include “can I post it on my blog “.

How to capture a show

I recommend Total Recorder . I have used it for years and it is excellent.

Listening after 7 days

..should be fine in all circumstances, unless they are running some sort of Digital Rights Management technology, that blocks the file after a number of days. The BBC IPlayer does this after 30 days with video.

Ask for a copy of your Interview

If you are on the show, they will give you a copy 95 times from 100. If you post it on your blog, it is extra publicity for the radio station. The exception would perhaps be major set piece interviews - in this ask first then it becomes part of the contract (at least under UK Law).

A couple of minutes should be fine

In almost all cases you will be OK posting a short excerpt of a Radio Programme.

I do that regularly on the Wardman Wire blog - with no problems so far.

You are likely to get asked to remove the file if you post most or all of a programme. That is what the BBC would do.

And if it is a Podcast, go right ahead

If a programme is available as a podcast, you are probably OK to post excerpts as you wish.

But, if it is commercial…

There is one caveat on all of these points. If you making exploiting material commercially (e.g., by adding adverts to a BBC Radio programme), then you should be getting clearance before you post anything.

Few organisations would have problems with low-level advertising, such as a couple of Google Ads on the same page.

Wrapping Up

In summary - if you only post limited exerpts from programmes without trying to make money from the material itself, you will probably be OK, even if may not quite be following the exact letter of the law.

Exclusion clause: This is my opinion, not my advice !

Tags: audio on a blog, record from radio, blog interview, post audio, total recorder, totalrecorder, rachel north, bbc iplayer, digital rights management[tags]audio on a blog, record from radio, blog interview, post audio, total recorder, totalrecorder, rachel north, bbc iplayer, digital rights management[/tags]