User-Generated Content New Business Models & Legal Issues

'User-Generated Content' - the buzz term of the day. But what does it mean? This term seems to reflect whatever hopes, or fears, are held by the particular speaker. It can be either the great democratising force enabling consumers, the scourge of reputable content holders, or something in between. Depending on one's perspective, User-Generated Content (henceforth 'UGC') is something to be stopped at all costs, or a spark to be fanned into flames and monetised that represents the potential salvation of an industry. One thing is for sure, UGC represents a shift in control from content owners to consumers. This shift challenges established ways of doing business, and the legal practices that have served as the foundation of that business. Concepts of ownership, exclusivity, control and royalties are all in flux. We are at the advent of a new era. In this book, we have taken on the challenge of examining UGC from the various perspective of wide-ranging industries including music, TV, newspapers, radio, mobile, and advertising, as well as from the viewpoint of investors. We will explore issues ranging from the practical (what is the potential value of DRM?) to the philosophical (what are UGC's effects on language and culture?). As we explore UGC from different angles, it will be instructive to consider which factors are consistent from industry to industry and which differ, and whether this multi-faceted view results in greater understanding and solutions.