Doctor Who Theme Repository closed down by order of the BBC

Danny Stewart · #1 June 2, 2006, 11:33 AM

Well, looks like the Doctor Who Theme Repository must finally close its doors. I got this e-mail yesterday (Thursday, June 1) at around 12:30 in the afternoon, from the BBC Counterfeit Items Brand Protection Team.

As the contact point for the website < http://www.dannystewart.com/doctorwho/themes/ > I am writing to confirm that much of the material on your website is being offered in violation of copyright and trade mark law.
Your disclaimer has actually recognised the ownership of the DR WHO brand and associated themes, but by offering this material for others to download you are infringing the rights of BBC and others.

You are requested to remove immediately any and all DR WHO themes from your website (and any other websites under your control) and undertake not to offer them for distribution (or sale) again.

If we have not received your undertaking, or any of the above items are still available, by Friday June 2nd at 9am Eastern Time (1400 hrs BST) we will assume that you do not wish to co-operate, and we will consider further action against you.

We look forward to hearing from you without delay.

Yours,
Brand Protection team
BBC Worldwide Ltd
London
UK

If you look at the Theme Repository now, you'll notice that it's been shut down. We had a good run and we knew it couldn't last forever, but it's still very sad to see it go.

Ronnie Rowlands · #2 June 2, 2006, 11:50 AM

I for one am very very sad to hear this

Ross Hendrie · #3 June 2, 2006, 11:50 AM

Pfft. Stupid BBC.

Danny Stewart · #4 June 2, 2006, 12:06 PM

It is very sad. I am proud to say that during its year of operation, the Doctor Who Theme Repository received an amazing 100,000 downloads. I got to be quite famous... a bit too famous, perhaps. Oh well... at least I made a positive difference to thousands of Doctor Who fans around the world.

Ross Hendrie · #5 June 2, 2006, 4:07 PM

Indeed. You have that to be proud of.

Danny Stewart · #6 June 2, 2006, 4:23 PM

Thank you, Ross.

Ronnie Rowlands · #7 June 3, 2006, 2:53 AM

If it wasn't for you I wouldnt have any closing themes in my collection.

Ronnie Rowlands · #8 June 3, 2006, 2:54 AM

OH, thats a bit of an RTD isn't it? Rounding it off like that

Was that the exact number?

Danny Stewart · #9 June 3, 2006, 10:18 AM

No, unfortunately I deleted all the files before I was able to check. It's also a bit of estimation, because I know I only had 40,000 downloads on the new site, but the new site was only running for about a third of the time the site was online, so extrapolating for the previous two-thirds of the time, I came up with the figure of an additional 60,000. There were likely more than 100,000, but that's where my guess will remain at.

Chris Britton · #10 June 3, 2006, 2:01 PM

Danny, i am shocked and angry at this, i only heard a couple of themes, but they were brilliant. the BBC are being killjoys, they were popular. I am so sorry about this mate. as a mark of respect, could i possibly have some? to stick on my PSP and iPod so they are never forgotten

I never actually had the adress, so i never heard all of them.

Danny Stewart · #11 June 3, 2006, 2:35 PM

I'm working on getting a possible new solution online as soon as possible. I'll keep you informed -- thanks for your support.

Chris Britton · #12 June 3, 2006, 4:27 PM

Beware of lawyers, nothing can stop them, not even a fat mans armpits

BritCanuck · #13 June 3, 2006, 5:34 PM

The BBC wrote: "Your disclaimer has actually recognised the ownership of the DR WHO brand and associated themes, but by offering this material for others to download you are infringing the rights of BBC and others."

They always find an excuse. First Aggedor.com, now the Theme Repository.

Danny Stewart wrote: "I got this e-mail yesterday (Thursday, June 1) at around 12:30 in the afternoon (EDT), from the BBC Counterfeit Items Brand Protection Team."
The BBC wrote: "If we have not received your undertaking, or any of the above items are still available, by Friday June 2nd at 9am Eastern Time (1400 hrs BST) we will assume that you do not wish to co-operate, and we will consider further action against you."

And how dare they give you less than 24 hours' notice. Maryland is in the Eastern time zone, so they only gave you 21 hours' notice. Even 24 hours is too short. What if you'd been on holiday?

Lucas doesn't seem to have any problems with fansites supporting a franchise that is significantly larger worldwide than DW.
They're already complaining about the current season on IMDb's boards. The last thing the BBC can afford to do right now is turn their own fans against their flagship show.

Shame. The Theme Repository will be greatly missed.

Otherwise, have a nice weekend.

Danny Stewart · #14 June 4, 2006, 2:56 AM