182
Lost Doctor Who episodes found – but owner is reluctant to hand them to BBC
(www.theguardian.com)
A good old fashioned Doctor Who Community
So unless I missed something, I didn’t see any place where the BBC went after the collectors for illegal recording. This sounds like they’re scared of something that hasn’t happened and, at least in this case the BBC is very happy to have found a copy.
The article states what they are worried about
This sounds less like a recording of a broadcast and instead physical media that never was supposed to be removed from the BBC in the first place.
That's more like dumpster diving. I wouldn't exactly consider that theft
You're not a corporate entity trying to maintain a stranglehold on an IP. I don't think there's any depth they are unwilling to plumb to protect and enhance their profits.
P.S. Yes I know the BBC is publicly funded by the British people but it is also a corporate entity that makes money on its unique IPs just like any other... cough Disney cough