IGF 2012- WS137 - How do we ensure the future of creative content online?

he internet has helped to open up a global market for content producers. However, while it has made it easier for producers to share their work, it has also made it easier for this work to be copied and distributed without permission. This proposal is for a workshop session at IGF Baku which will build on the discussions from the UK-IGF in March. Prior to the UK-IGF meeting in March 2012, we asked UK stakeholders to identify topics that were of importance to them. A number of our stakeholders suggested content and IP regulation as an area they were interested in discussing. This resulted in a workshop titled: "Content creation in a changing world: How do we build the right environment?" The session looked at how we could ensure the future of digital creative content. A short report from this workshop is available on the UK-IGF website at: http://ukigf.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/downloads-manager/upload/UKIGF_Mar2012_content_creation_workshop_report.pdf The discussions around content and copyright are contentious and can result in strong reaction from those on either side of the debate which is not conducive to constructive discussion. Many discussions on this topic therefore focus on one side of the debate. The audience at our March workshop felt that the question of copyright had to be at the core of any discussion around online content creation and could not be ignored. This workshop aims to include the whole spectrum of the debate. However, rather than assessing what is wrong with the current model and ending up with polarisation of the debate we would like this session to be constructive and informative rather than re-affirming entrenched positions. In order to achieve this, we will focus the discussion on practical elements, assessing constructive mechanisms for ensuring that the future of creative content across all sectors is secure. This workshop will look at how to promote and maintain a competitive and vibrant content market going forward. We will begin by imagining the content market in 10 years time, thinking of the wider issues about how people might select and "consume" content in the future, and how the content producers are rewarded/ incentivised to produce this content. Through interactive discussions with the audience the panel will examine ways in which we can work towards ensuring this future, including the production of locally generated content. The session will focus on answering the questions: What are the threats to the future of online content production? How do we safeguard against these threats? http://wsms1.intgovforum.org/content/no137-how-do-we-ensure-future-creative-content-online