RTÉ said no
Read more about: Blogging, Democracy, Irish Politics, Petitions 
In answer to my requests (blogged on this site here, here and here; and elsewhere) that the forthcoming leaders debates on RTÉ be made available online without restriction so that the footage could be shared and re-used without infringing copyright – unsurprisingly and unfortunately – RTÉ have declined to do so:
Further to your request that RTÉ waives its copyright to the debates between the party leaders due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday RTÉ has decided not to agree to your request. We believe that by making the debates available on the rte.ie web site anyone who wishes to analysis or review the debates is fully facilitated. The view has been taken that it would not be prudent for RTÉ to waive its rights to the migration of the debates to other sites.
More here (on cearta.ie).
That’s fair enough to be honest. They are allowing people to see it for free on their site.
I think its not fair or right given its a public sector body who are being supported by the tax payer, how can the BBC open its entire library to all users and RTE can’t make an exception for two programmes which are distinctly under their public service remit and are of no real commerical value. It isn’t like we want them to put up all the past episodes of Fair City. Thanks for keeping them under pressure on this Eoin and maybe them may still see the light.
I can understand RTE’s position on this. The footage might not be re-used for commercial purposes but it will almost certainly be used for political purposes, whether this involves seriously trying to undermine a politician for ideological purposes or just taking the mick. RTE would not want to facilitate a situation whereby the material could be re-edited to distort what the politicians are saying or where what they say or do could be taken out of context.
The fact they have a public service mandate, in my opinion, actually works against them making material like this available except in circumstances where they can control it. Remember, taxpayers’ don’t just pay RTE for collecting this footage, but for the way they present it as well. RTE has an obligation to present it in a non-partisan way; anybody else who was free to use the footage would not have this obligation.
Let’s face it. Someone will put it on youtube anyway.
Nice try though Eoin.