Markets in Transition

We are in a transition period, where markets are adjusting and legislation and regulatory frameworks have to evolve and adapt to these new conditions. Insisting on perpetuating and extending regulation conditions that respond to the past (as the media corporations successfully lobbying for) is not viable in the mid and long term and not in the best interest of society.

In his book Free Culture (available on-line at www.free-culture.cc), Lawrence Lessig insists on the dangers of trying to regulate through restrictive legislation a changing market and social environment.

The End of Piracy

It is most likely that in the next few years, content piracy will become obsolete thanks to the advances of technology and networks. There will be no need to illegally download songs or movies when they can listened or watched at any time on demand from cell phones, interactive radios and TV sets, game consoles, Personal Computers or any other device connected to the network. The only difference is that in that not so distant future, the telecommunications companies will get a cut of the content royalties by providing access to it and the authors will be compensated. It is even likely that the cost of accessing this content on demand will be part of a bulk service package with limited or unlimited access to content.

Evolving Markets respond and adapt

• Cable companies in developed countries are starting to offer "on demand" service packages (such as HBO on demand) that allow subscribers to watch specific movies and programs at any time.
• Media giant ABC allows USA residents to view on-line the full episodes of its most popular TV series, including Desperate Housewives and Lost, the very same week they are broadcasted. And if you want to have it, just pay US$1.99 for a full legal download.
• Ill-famed Napster has evolved into a legal on-line music store with a catalog of 2 million songs and music pieces for sale at US$0.99 each. Those living in Canada, USA or the UK, can listen to each song for free, up to 5 times, without paying a cent. After that, you can buy the song, or register for a fee and continue to listen more songs. That is almost as good as downloading stuff, and entirely legal and free.
• Apple iTunes won the battle against the Media Corporations who were resisting sales of songs at US$0.99 a piece and were insisting that such a model was unsustainable and unprofitable.
• The video rental boom proved wrong all predictions that video-tape and later DVD technologies would kill the retail market for movies.