Won't allow download of purchased video to a computer

moflint

I have over 30 titles in my PURCHASED video library with TalkTalk TV. TalkTalk have sold to Rakuten TV and I have just asked their Customer Services if I can download my films that I've purchased.

The answer is Yes, as long as it is to a mobile phone or tablet. Well I don't watch films on my mobile phone, and have no idea how to get them off my phone onto my computer where I can watch them properly.

If I OWN the film then surely I can download it to whatever device I choose. Any tips on dealing with this company?

timbstoke

You don't own the film. You licensed the content and can do with it what the original license agreement allows you to.

moflint

It allows downloading of the content because they say I can download to IOS or Android. However I remember hearing years ago - back when this was BlinkBox - that they allowed users by request to download to computers by giving them URLs from which to download from. Therefore it's unlikely that they would allow this if in fact it was breach of contract. Most of my purchased are from the BlinkBox era, before it because TalkTalk TV.

I can no longer log into TalkTalk because it forwards to Rakuten TV - so I don't know how to find this original licensing agreement.

MB69

Is Rakuten owned by Play.com or vice versa!

Terrible company, terrible service!

if you download to ios, can you not then just take it off it? Do you have to use a special app to watch the films?

MB69

Looking at the following page:

https://help.rakuten.tv/hc/en-gb/articles/360000243965-Download-and-watch-offline

it days it stores it on the device and you need a lot of storage/.

If you can download to device, then there has to be a way to take it off the device and convert to standard MP4 format to watch on other devices.

lammy82

Any download to ios or Android would be for offline viewing of an encrypted file within a designated app, I'd assume, not a static unencrypted file that you could download, copy, share, re-upload etc.

If you want to watch them on your computer, you just need to sign in and stream them, I guess.

This highlights the danger of purchasing licences to access online content. When the content provider closes down you lose access. If someone else buys the content provider, you may not have the same terms.

Do you have a specific reason for wanting to download the films rather than just be able to watch them?

lammy82

MB69 wrote: »

Looking at the following page:

https://help.rakuten.tv/hc/en-gb/articles/360000243965-Download-and-watch-offline

it days it stores it on the device and you need a lot of storage/.

If you can download to device, then there has to be a way to take it off the device and convert to standard MP4 format to watch on other devices.

The downloaded file will be encrypted so it can only be viewed with the Rakuten app. Attempting to break this encryption is doubtless a breach of the terms of service.

One could just as well advise downloading the films through other 'unlicenced' means, but such advice would go against the terms of use of these boards.

moflint

lammy82 wrote: »

If you want to watch them on your computer, you just need to sign in and stream them, I guess.

This highlights the danger of purchasing licences to access online content. When the content provider closes down you lose access. If someone else buys the content provider, you may not have the same terms.

Do you have a specific reason for wanting to download the films rather than just be able to watch them?

Yes - I want to download them so I can play them when I want, without an internet connection. When you BUY something that's what you're expecting - or what most people would expect. The button I clicked for purchasing was a BUY button, not a LICENCE CONTENT button. You are right, this does highlight the dangers... everyone should beware if "BUYING" movies from this services.

moflint

MB69 wrote: »

If you can download to device, then there has to be a way to take it off the device and convert to standard MP4 format to watch on other devices.

I doubt it - it's probably encrypted files as others have pointed out.

moflint

lammy82 wrote: »

If someone else buys the content provider, you may not have the same terms.

This would be a good issue to address. My feeling is they have to honour the original agreement. I wonder if anyone else can confirm this?

JJ_Egan

No that would not be true .
All depends upon what they actually buy .
May just be the trading name .
You need to go into the original TT contract and check as T&C probably say you don't own the video .


Looking at a similar supplier for films .
You purchase a digital copy and don't own the copy nor the rights to a hard copy . Neither can you transfer the copy outside of the designated system players .
At a guess TT would have the same T&C .