Compensating creativity in the digital world : reconciling technology and culture

Abstract

New proposals on compensatory mechanisms and viability of traditional practices for online environment is currently being considered by the European Union and are subject of heated academic debate. Simultaneously new business models for distribution of intellectual property online are emerging rapidly. The paper focuses on the failures of the current compensatory mechanisms, as well as new proposals to compensate the creative in the online environment, including current online distribution practices, universal levy proposals - Internet access and traffic levies, blank media levies, voluntary compensation systems, as well as traditional practices of the collecting societies, effects of the content protection technologies (DRM) on the accessibility and fair use of information online. The paper suggests the set of features for the new compensatory system, including socio-economic aspects of the different societies, and the need of uniform and worldwide compensatory system. Conclusions support the necessity to revise current compensatory mechanisms, centering on the proposed features, rather than just technological mechanisms, which dominate the current political agenda.