BBC's former iPlayer director says IP needs to be better protected

In an interview with The Guardian, Ashley Highfield, BBC’s former digital chief and now working for Microsoft UK, says that TV has a future in the digital age, but changes must be made.

He urges TV companies to take a look at Internet developments and learn from them. For example, airing shows simultaneously rather that via a strict schedule allows stations to better accommodate target audiences. Also in selecting new shows could be a community effort rather than the responsibility of a single commissioner.

<o:p></o:p>However, Ashley warns that all changes will be void if intellectual property is not better protected.  Making better use of the Internet also means acknowledging the risks it poses. "Most popular YouTube content is based on TV programming in bite-sized portions," Highfield says. "Most broadcasters and producers are not getting revenue from that content. TV companies must learn to protect their content to allow them to recoup their investments.

<o:p></o:p>"Piracy is the central plank of all of this. We mustn\'t duck the issue, we must face it head on," he argues. "There is a growing consensus something can be done. We have to protect IP for the health of our economy. We need implementable anti-piracy measures. We can do a lot more [than the Digital Britain report proposes] if there is a will to do it."

<o:p></o:p>The Digital Britain report, published in June, suggests that offenders first need to be warned in writing repeatedly before punitive action can be taken. According to Highfield, this is not enough. Measures should allow content providers to strike back quickly and show their teeth.