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Canada
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Quebec:
A multimedia organization is…reborn: the “regroupement
des producteurs multimédia” (RPM). Previously called
the BPCI or Bureau des producteurs en contenu interactif, the Montreal-based
organization is made up of companies working in the field of interactive
content, video production and corporate events organization. Headed by
re-elected President, René Lepire, RPM represents the interests
of 300 Quebec digital content producers. RPM will be financed by member
fees but also with the help of Alliance Numériqc, Quebec's digital
industry network. The Regroupement wants to be an effective lobby for
the rights and interest of its members, the producers of digital content.
Issues include the recognition of the title of Producer/Creator, financing
and tax credits for multimedia production, the role of Quebec largest
multimedia financing body SODEC and looking at the government tender process.
It is important to know that even in the days of BPCI, this organization
has always defended issues related to job recognition, employment and
work relations between producers and creators of digital content and their
contractors and will continue to do so. (Source: Le
lien multimédia, December 2, 2002)
Canada
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British Columbia:
New Media BC goes
further West and signs with Broadband
Media Association of Singapore (BMA) an Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) that increases the organizations' international profiles. The objectives
of the MOU are to “work together to promote the growth of the
broadband and new media industries in their regions, encourage trade,
advance technology and content development and enhance information exchange”.
New Media BC has attended Television
Asia and Animation Asia in Singapore, December 2-5, 2002 with the
intention to represent the digital content sector in British Columbia,
gather market intelligence, and make contact with industry leaders in
Singapore's digital media industry. (Source: New
Media BC, November 22, 2002)
Argentina:
The Argentinean
Multimedia Association (AADM) announced, in November 2002, a new Industry
awards, Multimedia Generation 2003, an event that wants to recognize
excellence in digital content creation in such fields as video art, 2D/3D
animation, digital arts and audiovisual sound. Multimedia Generation 2003
is open to Argentinean and foreigners alike and submissions are accepted
until April 1st, 2003. This initiative falls into AADM's plan to give
national and international talent, the community of designers, programmers
and other multimedia developers, the chance to publicly showcase their
creative and artistic works and given the chance, turn their work into
business opportunities. The jury is composed of Olga Hecker, Norberto
Grifa, Enrique Valiente, Fermín Fevre y Ricardo Dal Farra, among
others. Creativity, originality, inventiveness in utilizing multimedia
applications and the power of the artwork to express an idea are the principles
upon which the finalists will be chosen. To get information or participate
in this award, you can email generacion2003@aadm.org.
India:
The National Association
of Software and Services Companies, NASSCOM, believes e-government
initiatives at the national and regional levels could lift the sluggish
domestic Indian ICT industry from the doldrums. Both public and private
sector organizations are hoping different levels of governments will kick-start
an ambitious ICT infrastructure program that will ripple on all software
and hardware enterprises in the country, positively effect their business
growth and allow citizens greater access to technology and services. According
to an in-house study, 2001-2002 e-government spending reached a paltry
$2.5 billion US, a number NASSCOM would like to see increased in the near
future. The federal government has been asking the States and their agencies
to invest between 1 and 3% of their budget on IT projects. Already 19
States are moving forward with the recommendations, translating into good
business opportunities for Indian ICT vendors. Two ambitious projects
are also on track: the India Portal and the National Institute of SMART
Governance. Both are designed to facilitate a Government/Citizen interface
and a better understanding of citizens and enterprises needs in this field.
(Source: NASSCOM
Newsline, Issue 14, 2002)
France:
The French association, Fondation
Internet Nouvelles Génération (FING) announced December
19 the release of a publication dedicated to broadband technology and
usage, Hauts debits or Broadband. More than thirty specialists contributed
to this publication, itself a cooperative effort between l'Association
pour le commerce et les services en ligne (ACSL) and FING. Broadband
is based on the premise that despite the recent economic downturn in the
IT industry, individuals and companies have not reduced their use of Internet
and multimedia tools and applications. What has been lacking however in
most countries is the deployment of broadband technologies that facilitate
technological and content innovation and network practices. The book sifts
through the challenges of broadband in France in particular, attempts
to understand the current and potential usage allowed by the technology
and proposes recommendations to further deploy broadband in the country.
For more information on the publication, you can contact Daniel
Kaplan.
France:
The multimedia association, Les
WebProducteurs (AWP), is asking the Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre
Rafarin, to build on what has been done so far and do more to augment
digital content production in the areas of education, culture, information
and entertainment. AWP is arguing for the creation of special digital
content production fund financed in major part by the redistribution of
revenues coming from Internet Service Providers (ISP). This fund will
complement the existing Fonds d'Aide à l'Edition Multimedia, used
mostly by the video game industry. The association has laid out a nine
point plan and wants the current government to act on it. AWP is worried
that without such help, French Internet will be reduced to services such
email, personal web pages and e-commerce and no original web content.
The issue will be discussed in a large gathering of content producers
during the Fête
de l'Internet 2003 (March 17-23). (Source: AWP
Communiqué, Decembre 3, 2002)
Germany:
Multimedia
Association DMMV publishes a guide for Internet partnerships.
This guide provides many practical tools for the planning and successful
implementation of Internet related marketing and sales partnerships. Instructions
for the creation and implementation of cross-selling and co-branding projects
offer important insight for creating new cooperation projects. The guide
also covers legal questions and pricing mechanisms. The guide targets
all companies that use Internet to increase their brand awareness, win
new customers or increase their revenues, in particularly online-retail
stores, financial services providers, travel sites, car rental operations
and ticketing services. The content provided in the guide is based on
the work done by DMMV's working group “Affiliate Marketing”
created in 2000. A month earlier, DMMV published another guide geared
this time toward sponsorship issues and provides advice on how to integrate
the Internet into ongoing or future sponsorship activities. It also provides
background information for budgeting, pricing, implementation and project
control. DMMV wants to strengthen and promote this important advertising
medium and create a foundation for the increased use and implementation
of sponsoring activities in the Internet. (Source: www.dmmv.de)
Nigeria:
The Nigerian
Information Technology Professionals in America (NITPA) released a
study entitled “The Future Generation of ICT Experts: Can Africa
Lead the Way”, revealing Africa's serious lag in the global ICT
race. According to the President of NITPA, Manny Anjebonam, Africa
has to develop the necessary tools to allow for the right use of local
talent and resources and push for greater education, policy realignment,
knowledge content creation among others in order not to be left behind
in the digital revolution. The study argues that given the rate at which
African universities are producing IT graduates, the continent will need
45 years to catch up with its North American counterpart. Furthermore,
IT contributes 15% to economic growth in North America while it is a meagre
0.2% in Africa. Mr. Anjebonam attributes all these lags to poor IT infrastructure,
scarcity in human capital, inadequate governmental policies, lack of educational
tools, political and economic insecurity and institutions that do not
respond to the challenges of the day. Ironically, Africa imports most
of its IT skills and resources while there is a Diaspora of well trained
African experts working in North America and Europe. Policies and appropriate
environments have to be set up in order to attract members of the Diaspora.
This requires relentless efforts by governments, NGOs and industry to
present Africa as a place open for technology and business, address political,
security and regulatory issues, develop partnerships
between public and private sector institutions within African countries
and between countries members of the African Union (AU) and focus
on training and education through various existing programs. The study
proposes that AU and NEPAD play a major role in bringing about these challenging
changes. (Source: The Vanguard (Lagos), All
Africa Online service, November 13, 2002)
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