(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

TACD (Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogues) organized a conference under the title "New Relationships Between Creative Communities and Consumers" in Paris on 19-20 June 2006. Participants represented a wide range of interests, including both artists' and consumers' organizations, but also WIPO and the European Commission.

Several panels explored problems and possibilities in creators' and users' rights in fields as various as gene research, drug development, software production, entertainment industry, documentary films and scholarly publishing. The breadth of discussion and ideas presented was impressive.

One recurring theme was that creators and users of intellectual works are not necessarily enemies; their interests are more common than conflicting. Indeed often they are the same people: professional creators need to be able to use earlier creations, and in the networked world consumers are increasingly also creators.

As concerns the software development there was a strong opposition to software patents and support for open standards, especially for interfaces and file formats needed for interoperability. The dangers of monopolies and the importance of free software were stressed, especially for basic functionality.

Regarding the entertainment industry (music and film), there was a surprisingly strong consensus that some kind of flat rate and global licensing system for file sharing and downloading would be a good thing and that time has come for it. Nonetheless, it was noted there are still lots of technical and legal problems to be solved.

Scholarly publishing was also debated, observing that the present system serves mainly the interests of publishers, not those of creators or users who are indeed mainly the same people - scientists.

A draft document called "Paris accord" containing a collection of suggestions on how the various issues should be addressed was circulated and discussed. The treaty could give directions for the creation of a DRM-free new music industry that would be beneficial for both artists and consumers.

However, the document remained a draft as there was no real attempt to finalize it during the conference. There was an agreement, however, that something like it would be necessary and that work would continue although no deadline was decided on its completion

Paris TACD conference - Neil Leyton report (29.06.2006)
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/9217

TACD Workshop - the Paris Accord - 19-20 June 2006
http://www.cptech.org/a2k/pa/

"New Relationships Between Creative Communities and Consumers" - TACD Conference
http://www.tacd.org/docs/?id=296

(Contribution by Tapani Tarvainen - EDRi-member Electronic Frontier Finland)