Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

cc-europe - [Cc-europe] Communication on Creative Content in the open market

cc-europe AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Cc-europe mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Paul Keller <pk AT kl.nl>
  • To: cc-europe AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Cc-europe] Communication on Creative Content in the open market
  • Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 23:01:21 +0100

dear all,

most of you have probably seen this already, but the EC has recently published a communication on Creative Content Online in the Single Market. The communication and a accompanying Staff working paper can be found here:

http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/other_actions/content_online/index_en.htm

While the consultation has no direct links to the activities of Creative Commons it does cover two fields that are fairly close: DRM and Internet Filtering (to prevent piracy). The rest of the communication is about multiterritorial licensing of commercial content. Regarding DRM it is remarkable to see that with this communication the Commission effectively Endorses DRM. While this is made with fairly humble intentions (namely to improve interoperability and to introduce more easy to understand labeling of DRMed content) it is potentially dangerous that the EU as a political body is starting to promote DRM. This has also been signalled by the FSF europe and they have written an open letter to Ms reading, demanding her to retract this part of the communication (not sure if that is even possible but anyway). the letter can be signed here:

http://www.defectivebydesign.org/EU_Letter

furthermore the communication deals with content filtering at the provider level in order to combat piracy and file-sharing. it my be obvious that this is a bad idea. specifically the communication also asks for feedback on the recent Memorandum of Understanding adopted by the French government, the ISPs and the entertainment industry, to monitor internet traffic and ban users from the internet if they are found to engage in 'illegal file sharing' (see also here:http://www.voyantes.net/blog/?p=268) . I dont think that i need to explain why this is obviously a bad idea that should under no circumstance exported to the rest of the EU.

With this the communication the commission is soliciting feedback on these issues. There is an Annex with 11 questions regarding these issues and stakeholders are asked to provide feedback before the 29th of february. The are good grounds to believe that there will be substantial amount of feedback from stakeholders that is both pro-DRM and pro-filtering and therefor it might make sense for some of us here on this list (specifically these who can provide feedback in the name of an organisation) to have a look at the consultation and submit comments to the commission).

all the best from amsterdam,
paul
--
Kennisland | Knowledgeland
t: +31 20 5756720 | m: +31 6 41374687
www.kennisland.nl | www.knowledgeland.org






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page