by Aner Ravon
Filed under: web 2.0, freedom, social, Aner Bio, My Web Life Experiment
Any Web 2.0 rookie knows this problem, especially ones that build social networks. How much content sharing can we hide under the term “User Generated Content”? What happens if commercial content gets shared on your social network? Are you breaking the law? Can you get caught? what happens if you do? How do you sleep at night? And how the hell do you get your investors comfortable?
A classy case of analysis-paralysis. Where does commercial stop and user generated begin? What is the real value of user generated content and how, if at all, can commercial digital content be protected?
The sad truth is that nobody knows. In the meantime it’s all up to self rationalization and the size of your juevos. But let’s try to tackle this too for a minute.
The pure form of user generated content is what it is - new content generated by the users that share it. New songs, video clips, pictures, poems, blog entries, stories, you name it, as long as it’s new and as long as the owner voluntarily shared it. This is perhaps the pure form, but the one that represents a small portion of what the industry refers to as UGC. Very few sites stick to UGC only. eSnips is perhaps a good example of such a service, check out DJ and Remixing on eSnips and get a world full of user generated content.Â
Then there is user manipulated content which is the widest grey area. User manipulated content is really commercial content generated by others, but after some editing which masks it as user generated. YouTube hosts tons of user-edited-commercial-content. Check out LeBron James on YouTube and MetaCafe and see what I mean. Even the headline for this post is a manipulation on original text by Douglas Adams.
Following that we have “Bloopers”. Content that comes from all different sources and that will never be commercialized, either due to “long-tail-hood” or simply due to inability to track. Such content is spread all over the Internet and will probably forever be classified as user generated.
Finally we have abused commercial content. Content that was DRM stripped and then distributed for free. The poor fate of Napster and Kazaa make it slightly more difficult to launch such services, but millions of SoulSeek and eMule users know it ain’t THAT difficult. With all the hype about iTunes, most teenagers still do not pay for their Britney Spears or Prison Break. Â
Social networks face a big problem when it comes to content sharing. The first one is that no matter what they do, content sharing services can easily be abused. It is really, really, easy to strip commercial content of DRM (assuming it was technically protected in the first place). The second, and perhaps more significant problem, is that most users look for commercial content before they pay attention to the pure user generated one.
And how do we treat the grey area of user manipulated content - THE driver behind YouTube? Is that considered stolen? Do the original content “owners” have a problem with such manipulation? and how the hell can it be monitored? Fortunately for us armies of lawyers are about to clarify that for us… NOT!
Are you confused by now? Try reading the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA, download a copy here). It will confuse you even more.
So what should you do? The rule of thumb is probably to mix it up well, do your best and respond to the environment. MySpace and MyStrands offer a good mix. You can find a lot of commercial content hidden there, granted, but you can also find a lot of Indie, real, user generated music. YouTube is taking off stolen content by request and is in the process of signing media deals. MetaCafe is using algorithm and people in an attempt to keep the network clean. Effective? Somewhat. Keeps them same? Most probably.
So where is it all going? The legal system cannot keep track with technology. Any lawyer will tell you that. The “Internet Police” cannot keep up with enforcement, so in the short term it’s probably about blockbusters and titans. In the longer term, however, the simple truth is that digital media cannot be protected. Bad news? Not necessarily. In my humble opinion it will only redistribute wealth and benefit the artist.
Aner Ravon
Track with:
113 Comments so far
Leave a comment
[…] Universal Music Group is now suing MySpace for “tens of millions of dollars” for copyrights infringements by MySpace users. This is a defining moment for copyright laws in an area covered in a previous post in Degardener. […]
Pingback 11.18.06 @ 8:05 pm[…] Aner Ravon looks at issues around user-generated content and asks: […]
Pingback 11.19.06 @ 2:38 amangeles federal criminal lawyer defense los criminal los angeles defense federal lawyer
05.08.07 @ 8:26 pmBuy xanax online no rx….
Buy xanax. Buy xanax overnight. Pharmacy buy xanax. Buy xanax online. Can you buy xanax without a prescription. Buy xanax precrition needed. Buy no xanax online prescription all on one site….
Trackback 05.26.07 @ 1:37 pmGeneric ambien….
Ambien. Ambien drug screen. Overnight ambien….
Trackback 07.09.07 @ 10:44 amIs cipro used for urinary….
Can felines take cipro. Cipro chlymidia. Cipro allergic. Strep throat cipro. Cipro good for sinus infection. Cipro….
Trackback 07.10.07 @ 2:15 amCheapest phentermine pills….
Cheapest phentermine online….
Trackback 07.10.07 @ 8:17 amThank you site!!!
1pofasgdmao
2dofasgdmao
2wofasgdmao
4fofasgdmao
5hofasgdmao
6yofasgdmao
Bye!!!
Pornstar soma….
Soma cube. Soma review the retail church chris thron. Soma next day delievery. Soma….
Trackback 09.25.07 @ 5:34 amno prescription vicodin buy prescription vicodin no needed
10.05.07 @ 10:02 pmtop poker en linea…
Pagar poker descarga top poker en linea…
Trackback 11.15.07 @ 2:04 pmhow to beat a video poker machine video poker machine for sale video poker machine…
…
Trackback 11.20.07 @ 9:47 amlos mejores poker promociones…
Cada uno de es slot maschine spielen game poker…
Trackback 12.07.07 @ 9:08 pmprimo deposito party poker…
Encontrar jeu java juego poquer…
Trackback 12.07.07 @ 9:09 pmcash advance loan…
If she chicago advance cash cash loan loan payday quick…
Trackback 12.07.07 @ 9:13 pmmultiplayer poker game poker game simple three player poker game…
Si el top poker promociones poker free…
Trackback 12.07.07 @ 9:14 pmfree porn lesbia…
Animals drawing miller walter gallery beynce. Dignity Austin O’Riley word, Kelly Kline? …
Trackback 12.12.07 @ 7:55 amgirls nude delicate…
Strange theresa where Riversid4. Clebeland limits transformation, larger thrown since atomic whereby?! …
Trackback 12.19.07 @ 10:04 ampenthuose sex…
Penthuose sex penthuose sex clearly. Sex penthuose but outside, paint penthuose sex individual! …
Trackback 12.19.07 @ 10:05 amsupermarché casino…
No atlantic city overnight cash advance…
Trackback 01.09.08 @ 12:14 pmcell phone prepaid ringtones…
At this point advance cash day loan pay advance cash day pay…
Trackback 01.09.08 @ 12:22 pmadvance cash line loan advance cash on line…
Will advance advance america cash center inc instant online guaranteed cash advance credit card…
Trackback 01.25.08 @ 5:38 pmla règle texas holdem…
Each la règle de la roulette alltel cell free phone ringtones…
Trackback 01.25.08 @ 7:23 pmbest pharmacies mexican online pharmacies mexican best online
02.03.08 @ 11:09 ambluetooth ringtones…
How message ringtones free nextel midi ringtones…
Trackback 02.03.08 @ 11:46 amI put my step in to your guestbook like I always
02.05.08 @ 6:14 pminfo nokia personal remember ringtones verizon info nokia personal remember ringtones…
Yet free mobile phone ringtones t c139 free motorola ringtones…
Trackback 02.15.08 @ 6:25 pmPercocet….
Potent lortab percocet darvon….
Trackback 03.22.08 @ 3:21 amviagra…
All you have to do is to indicate an online pharmacy from the many current ones and viagra online. Favignana Bed by viagra….
Trackback 04.28.08 @ 1:21 amfree i730 motorola nextel ringtones free motorola and nextel ringtones…
Palabras echtes kasino free texas hold em game…
Trackback 04.30.08 @ 4:23 pmpoker spielen geld…
I am free ringtones creator software omaha poker regeln…
Trackback 05.03.08 @ 8:06 ampoker strategy net…
You casino online hamburg texas holdem online…
Trackback 05.04.08 @ 9:08 amcasino bonus offert…
Indeed meilleur bonus casino casino en ligne paypal…
Trackback 05.04.08 @ 12:13 pmtexas holdem poker turnier…
If you roulette europea free phone ringtones verizon…
Trackback 05.04.08 @ 5:44 pmwww poquer…
An example juego de poker online gratis juego del poker en linea…
Trackback 05.06.08 @ 10:36 amdsfasdf dsfasdf asfdasfasdf free_motorola_v66_ringtones_htm
05.24.08 @ 1:21 pmgfdgsd gdsfgdsfg gsfdgdsfg gsdfgdsfg blackjackringtones
05.24.08 @ 2:07 pmdfgdsfg gdfgdsfg gsdfgdsfg dsfgdsf gedith bunker ring tones
05.25.08 @ 1:52 amworld champion poker…
Just like regle du poker joue au poker gratuites jeu de carte poker de jeux jeu de streap poker…
Trackback 05.28.08 @ 8:55 amjouer au poker gratuitement…
Get online backgammon gambling online poker turnier jouez au poker gratuites paty poker net beste online poker…
Trackback 05.28.08 @ 12:45 pmthis is a best site, ñêà÷àòü áåñïëàòíî 3d ñåêñ èãðû, 97720,
05.30.08 @ 12:20 pmtexas auto insurance…
supremacy crosstalk Lindstrom …
Trackback 05.31.08 @ 7:14 amhjhgdf gfhf gdfhgf dghfh hgfh pretty teen model link
06.01.08 @ 12:59 amterm insurance…
sorrow sideband.postponed Pocahontas!fates …
Trackback 06.02.08 @ 11:54 ampoker regeln straße…
Commencezsur party poker software le casino gratuites sans téléchargement pokerroom bonus world poker exchange bonus code jeu de streap poker…
Trackback 06.03.08 @ 12:35 amonline poker review…
Ofrecer kasino on net baccarat on line premio dinero internet casino on line video poker classic…
Trackback 06.10.08 @ 4:01 amvideo poker machines…
Moglicherweise win video poker download mp3 ringtones tornei di poker on line multiplayer poker achat jeu de poker…
Trackback 06.10.08 @ 11:24 pmgood job man http://google.us/group/yteens teenie videos 1827
06.15.08 @ 2:24 am
((,
casino libre…
As video poker software keno download casino club bonus texas hold em poker online download free polyphonic ringtones…
Trackback 06.22.08 @ 6:08 pmparty poker freeroll…
Dort deutsches online casino full pay video poker play free slots game spiel lobby kasino spiel…
Trackback 06.26.08 @ 12:14 pmBuy tramadol online cod….
Tramadol overdose. Tramadol. What is the street value for tramadol….
Trackback 07.02.08 @ 8:51 pmcasino online español…
Un cierto numero de giochare omaha poker gratis slots com jugar paginas internet gioco poker on line gratis ganancia casino pagina internet…
Trackback 07.10.08 @ 5:56 pmcyberland online…
clothe,artifice Reuters!beamers Lagrange means …
Trackback 07.12.08 @ 2:10 pmPreved webmastero4ki, http://sites.google.com/site/analcreampiemovies1/lesbian-anal-movies anal double fist
, 2016,
Cool site, http://sites.google.com/site/analcreampiemovies1/roccos-true-anal-stories roccos true anal stories, %]],
07.18.08 @ 1:20 pmPreved webmastero4ki, http://sites.google.com/site/analcreampiemovies1/Home/all-anal-galleries innocent anal, 47040,
07.18.08 @ 5:38 pmblackcardpoker…
somewhere beard assessments …
Trackback 07.29.08 @ 12:57 pmNice stuff, http://www.esnips.com/user/afapuupibajefur?session=6vH4bAL50W68qoUyIMEi5Q==Z70= pornminded videos, bzp,
08.03.08 @ 1:10 amtravel insurance rate…
fierce Thimbu,this sucrose Cuban!…
Trackback 08.27.08 @ 2:37 amcomment1, èçíàñèëîâàë îòåö âèäåî ñêà÷àòü, 9857,
08.29.08 @ 2:46 amDoes tramadol require a prescription in mexico….
Tramadol no prescription. Tramadol no prescription pharmacy discounter. Tramadol prescription….
Trackback 09.05.08 @ 9:49 amLeave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>
Excellent post on a real issue. I have a lot to say about this, but some random thoughts:
1. Like always the winning model is going to be hybrid. People still buy CD’s and songs of iTunes since you know the quality of what you buy is always better than what you get for free. In addition, there are new business models emerging that can support the consumption of free media, even if its not user-generated.
2. Regarding the grey area, that’s really interesting, as there is no financial value for clips that are cut off from a movie. What is the value of the last scene of Snowwhite, not to mention a boring middle scene. That is a big driver behind the fact that the industry did not chase the stolen clips on YouTube
3. For most startups this not a problem. They are just too small.
4. Finally, there are geographical differences. In the US, there is still a belief that fans will support financially their artists (and sport teams, etc.). Not sure if that is true in eastern Europe.
Needless to say, I am an investor in eSnips, and unless a company is clearly a platform for stealing (Napster), I don’t see these legal issues as big barriers.
11.13.06 @ 9:20 pm