Wille, Theodor and the digital services
- "Choosing a path [for copyright development] is for me a metaphysical terror," said Theodor Kallifatides on Monday at a seminar organized by the People's Party on the conditions for cultural creators in a digital world. I am inclined to agree.
As a representative of Sweden's internet service providers, I can say a lot about the traditional attitude of the copyright industry towards digital media and intermediaries of such services, far from everything positive.
It is therefore encouraging that today there seems to be an unprecedented belief in the Internet's ability to both convey culture to an audience and generate revenue for creators. The late Per Strömbeck from the computer games industry was one of several who pointed this out, admittedly at the same time as the usual kicking at pirates and internet freedom activists. But Rome was not built in a day.
A year ago, it was virtually a condition that the piracy issue would be on the agenda in all industry discussions on the conditions for digital media services, but the focus has finally shifted - today, business models, copyright adapted to the Internet and Swedish opportunities to create international success are on everyone's lips.
It is a great success. For copyright lovers, pirates and not least all cultural consumers. The opportunities of the Internet for Swedish culture and Swedish developers of digital services are something that more and more politicians have also picked up on. It is improvements to their general market conditions that we need. Not the opportunity to shut people off from the web.
Swedish success therefore spells access to public data (free use of all digitizable publicly owned culture?), strong public R&D support for start-up service developers (will Sweden's future be built by Chinese and Dutch car manufacturers?) and generally simplified market conditions in the converging media and telecom industries.
"I'm done with physical [music] products..." said Wille Crafoord, one of the panelists, when asked how he sees the possibilities of the internet and the conditions for distributing his music.
If we are to believe IFPI, which is pleased that revenues from digital music sales in Sweden have doubled in six months (!) to over 30% of total industry revenues, it is mainly the quality and user-friendliness of legal online services that are competing with illegal alternatives (and physical products).
Clearly, today's cultural consumers agree with Wille Crafoord.