Intellectual property; campaigning for balance

Alwin Sixma,

Manager of the Digital Campaign at Consumentenbond

EU co-chair of the TACD Intellectual Property Working Group

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The theory: cultural innovation

“He who receives an idea from me receives

instruction without lessening mine.

And he who lights his taper at mine receives

light without darkening me.”Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

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IPR’s; what should they do?

• Deliver the best outcome for society

• Ensure the best possible development

• Allow for the most effective use

• Respect the creator

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Campaigning Focus: the music and film industry

• Restricting access and use

• Hampering Innovation

• Enforcing and Strengthening Copyrights

• Controlling with force

• Not delivering the best deal for consumers

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Innovation?

Receive

Watch

Return

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The best deal for consumers?

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iTunes under pressure

• Cooperation between national consumer organisations

of Norway, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands

• Complaints to the Competition Authority

• Complaint to Consumer Authorities

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iTunes starts reconsidering

• “So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their

music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the

remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a

DRM system? “

• “Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should

redirect their energies towards persuading the music

companies to sell their music DRM-free.”

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And changes

EMI and Apple Deliver

April 2nd 2007

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With effects on competition

• “Not just iTunes anymore: EMI unlocks DRM-free music for

other retailers” (June 14th, Ars Technica)

• “EMI says DRM-free music is selling well”

• “New Amazon Music Store Beats iTunes Pricing On DRM-Free

Tracks” (September 25th, Wired.com)

• “Bring it on, iTunes: Amazon readying DRM-free music service” (April 26th, Ars Technica)

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Campaigning Netherlands and EU

• Legitimate interests of consumers

• Consumer rights, not exceptions, are essential

• Influence European regulation

• National debate on intellectual property

• To make changes in the monopolistic behaviour of

rights-owners, a focus on the consumer angle is

necessary

• It is time we bring some balance into the debate!