locking down the internet... isnt supposed to happen.

[dieselboy]

i thought the "internet" was the World Wide Web ? meaning that as long as you have a leg on the internet then anyone in the world who also has a leg into the internet can reach each other.

so why, (someone tell me) do companies LOCK their websites down to specific countries? for example youtube is the biggest one, along with BBC and other such websites.

if i want to look at someones video from america i can click on the video only for it to say "this video is not available in your country".

im sure i read in some rights act something along the lines of "you have the right to recieve transmissions without restriction"

[Albannach]

The Internet is only a part of the 'World Wide Web'. It, along with everything and everyone else, must comply with individual countries' laws and treaties.

[dieselboy]

so if its against the law to prevent people from viewing transmissions / broadcasts, then why are they doing it?

[Albannach]

so if its against the law to prevent people from viewing transmissions / broadcasts, then why are they doing it?

It's not against the law to stop folk viewing some content, it's against the law to allow it.

Where do you get the idea that the internet is some kind of entity that's above the law?

[dieselboy]

im still trying to find what law that is that you're not allowed to be singled out and prevented from recieving content.

plus, you must be assuming the content is illegal? a music video is not explicit or pornographic, they would show the same content without modification on TV, and they do allow it to be shown in other countries.

another example is a live FM radio stream. i gave a link to my friend and he said he couldnt listen because he isnt in the same country.

there really is no reason for locking it down. if anything, it would be more beneficial to them if they didnt.

[Albannach]

At the risk of repeating myself... The Internet is only a part of the 'World Wide Web'. It, along with everything and everyone else, must comply with individual countries' laws and treaties.

For instance, China only allows Chinese content on their internet.

The recent YouTube fiasco, they allowed all music videos in the US to be shown because YouTube (in the USA) paid the Performing Rights folk the required fee. The UK didn't, so the videos were taken down in the UK only.

Radio broadcasts are also strictly governed as are TV broadcasts. If the station doesn't pay to be broadcast in another country, it won't be allowed.

You will not find a law anywhere that says everything on the internet can be shown everywhere. That would need every country in the world to sign up for that particular piece of legislation, we all know that won't happen.