Business Roundtable on the Consumer Interest in IPRs

Debate over the scope and enforcement of intellectual property rights (such as copyright, patents and trademarks) has often been polarised, with business stakeholders representing the interests of IP owners, and civil society representing the interests of content users.

However a shift in this impasse can be observed, and is associated with two factors. First, the accessibility of the digital online environment as a medium for all has blurred the distinction between creators and consumers. Second, as online business models have developed to embrace user-generated content as a key revenue driver, some have come to see the value of upholding the consumer interest when developing IP policy positions, on issues such as the public domain, fair use, new copyright limitations and exceptions, and IP alternatives.

This workshop aims to bring together key business opinion leaders from two camps - those whose businesses rely on a traditional model of knowledge ownership, and others who now find their interests more closely aligned with those of consumers. It will provide an opportunity for both camps to discuss and debate the implications of the new digital domain for IPR policy development, with the aim of reaching common ground.

Location: Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, 2 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris (Google Maps)

Cost: Free (refreshments included)

Social networking: Facebook, Twitter

RSVP: by 14 October 2009 to jeremy@ciroap.org

Panelists:

Ann Chaitovitz is an attorney with more than 15 years of copyright experience representing songwriters, publishers and recording artists. From 2005 to 2007, Ann was an attorney-advisor for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Future of Music Coalition.

Giuseppe de Martino is President of ASIC (French trade association of the Internet Community Services). Since 2007 he has also been SVP, General Counsel and Head of Public Affairs at Dailymotion, the world largest independent videos sharing site.

Aslam Raffee works with Sun Microsystems in its Government Strategy and Global Communities team. He was previously CIO of the Department of Science and Technology in the Government of South Africa and chaired its open source working group.

C Cay Wesnigk has worked as film director, writer and producer since 1987. In 2000 he founded OnlineFILM AG to help small independent film producers use digital technologies and the Internet for production and distribution. Amongst his other roles he chairs VG Bild-Kunst, Germany's collecting agency for audiovisual artists.

Eddie Schwartz is President of the Songwriters Association of Canada. He is best known for writing such hit songs as "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" recorded by Pat Benatar and "Don't Shed A Tear" by Paul Carrack.

Margie Milam is a Senior Policy Counselor for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Prior to joining ICANN, Ms. Milam served as the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of MarkMonitor, Inc., an international brand protection company.

Peter Jenner is a music manager and a record producer, whose clients have included Pink Floyd, T Rex, Ian Dury, The Clash and Billy Bragg. He is the Secretary General of the International Music Managers' Forum and a director of the UK Music Managers' Forum.

Hervé Le Crosnier is senior lecturer at the University of Caen, where he has taught courses on Internet technologies since 1995. His research concentrates mainly on the impact of Internet development on society. 0.8in

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