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I've seen this idea floated around at conferences, public meetings
and lectures for the last year or so. At one, this was touted as a
possible solution to 'piracy' - a government subsidised registry.
How, I'm not quite sure.<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.internationalmusicregistry.org/portal/en/basic_principles.html">http://www.internationalmusicregistry.org/portal/en/basic_principles.html</a><br>
<br>
Has any Party or individual yet commented to the IMR Secretariat or
Steering Committee? Or does anyone know where I can find some
current analysis on the idea?<br>
<br>
I am a little concerned with point 6, in that it should be business
model neutral, yet should not in anyway alter the current
arrangements/relationships or models. This seems to be
counterintuitive and ignores very fundamental reasons for the
'copyright crisis', as described by Francis Gurry, WIPO Director
General.<br>
<br>
Apologies if this has already been discussed at length on the list.<br>
<br>
----<br>
<br>
When a representative group of the global stakeholders in music
began to discuss collaborating on a global registry of all rights in
music in November 2010, the first task they undertook was to decide
upon a set of Basic Principles which could be the foundation of such
a registry, to ensure that there was a common understanding of the
result that all wanted to achieve. They believed that initiatives as
ambitious as the IMR need to be guided by a set of solid, universal
principles that are clear and generally agreed. Principles that
capture the efficiency and practical orientation of the project but
that also reflect the vital importance of transparency, openness and
non discrimination.<br>
<br>
That initial group of stakeholders became the Steering Committee of
the IMR; current list of those participating.<br>
<br>
To design such a system is obviously a substantial undertaking, but
the first step is to define the basic principles that should define
the foundation of the system at the strategic level. These have been
identified to be as follows:<br>
<br>
<ol>
<li>We have come to the point where more and more stakeholders
throughout the value chain of music agree that a transparent,
global registry of all rights and right holders is a
pre-requisite for the efficient handling of pan-territorial
licensing in the digital age.</li>
<li>Participation, whether as a licensor or licensee, should be
voluntary, open, and provide incentives for participation.</li>
<li>It should be a global public good that serves both culture and
commerce indiscriminately. Confidential information will remain
confidential.</li>
<li>The system should incorporate information regarding all rights
necessary to access, use, and remunerate musical works and
recorded performances of them, (whether sound recordings or
audiovisual performances), however expressed, by all right
holders therein and be extensible to other media.</li>
<li>It should allow all rights holders and other relevant
stakeholders to register the rights they control or own without
interfering with existing rights-management arrangements.</li>
<li>It should be business-model-neutral - not designed to displace
any sector or attempt to change existing business models or
rights management mandates. It must respect the existing
relationships in the industry.</li>
<li>The features that the system offers to all stakeholders -
throughout the value chain - should respond to all stakeholders'
reasonable needs - and over time the features it offers should
respond in a timely manner to new developments.</li>
<li>The system should not be profit-making - it should operate on
a cost-recovery basis only, sufficient to allow efficient
operation, maintenance, and improvement of the features it
offers over time. But it should seek to use technology to carry
out its operations as cost-effectively as possible.</li>
<li>Its governance structures should ensure that it operates for
the benefit of its stakeholders and the key decisions affecting
its operation should be responsive to the expressed wishes of
those who have a stake in it.</li>
<li>Wherever they exist it should leverage open standards.
Interoperability is important for the system to be accessed by
all stakeholders, and is especially helpful in ensuring
developing country stakeholders can effectively use the services
the system offers.</li>
<li>It should ensure it provides equal access indiscriminately for
those it serves irrespective of geographic location or size of
the stakeholders using it.</li>
<li>It should be a tool for both users and right owners,
containing features that ensure it serves the commercial
interests of users of the rights it contains for online uses. It
should also serve the public interest, such as by facilitating
diligent search and "awaiting claim" capabilities for orphan
works and delimitation of the public domain.</li>
<li>To the greatest extent possible the information it contains on
rights and right holders should be accessible. Are you
interested in commenting or discussing the Basic Principles?</li>
<li>The Basic Principles are meant to evolve over time, rather
than being fixed in stone. There will be a formal comment
process to allow stakeholders to express their views on the
principles but that process is still under development. As soon
as we have it ready, we will make an announcement and explain
how it will work.</li>
</ol>
If you would like to be kept informed about the IMR so you know when
the comment process begins, please subscribe on the left hand side
of our home page and we will make sure you are notified. If you want
to reach the IMR secretariat or steering committee, email us at
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:imr@wipo.int">imr@wipo.int</a><br>
<br>
----<br>
<br>
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Kind Regards,<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Rodney Serkowski<br>
Pirate Party Australia<br>
----<br>
(e) <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:rodneyserkowski@pirateparty.org.au">rodneyserkowski@pirateparty.org.au</a><br>
(w) <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://pirateparty.org.au">http://pirateparty.org.au</a><br>
(m) +61 409 159 904<br>
(t) @serkowski<br>
<span style="font-family: monospace;"></span><br>
<br>
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