The
Multimedia and Interactive Digital Content Industry
must define itself!
It
is getting increasingly obvious that our industry
needs to be more seriously, thoroughly and rigorously
defined, as it is becoming arduous to defend essentials
and specifics in digital content creation. For
example, many associations are complaining about
the fact that it is difficult for MIDC businesses
to demonstrate the real weight and potential of
the industry to governments and to private sector
financial partners.
As
indicated by the Allen Consulting Group in a recent
research http://www.allenconsult.com.au/resources/ausfta_SA.pdf,
quoted in a Press Release of the Australian Interactive
Media Industry Association (AIMIA) on March 16,
it has been “estimated that digital content
contributes more to the economy of New South Wales
than agriculture or mining”, and it is believed
to be the same with many other states.
According to the Australian Interactive Media
Industry Association (AIMIA), the future of the
Australian information economy is threatened by
the US/Australia Free Trade Agreement proposal
(AUSFTA) http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/us.html.
In
the AIMIA Press Release http://www.aimia.com.au/i-cms?page=485
, the Executive Director Louise van Rooyen points
out that “The Australian Government has
chosen to lock in its ability to regulate interactive
media services in its trade with the US using
vague terminology which overlooks the future for
the development of information, communication
and entertainment technologies.” She argues
that “Interactive Media is based on a variety
of technological platforms being used together
to provide products and services, such as internet
sites, broadband sites, SMS games, interactive
television and interactive CD-ROMs. Technologies
not currently in use today will be used in the
shaping of Australia’s economic future”.
Some
others argue that gaming, for example, is in the
entertainment sector, as others claim it should
be considered as cultural goods.
Canada has so far been able to exclude its “cultural”
products form the North American Free trade Agreement
(NAFTA). It has also managed along with France
and other countries to have the 32nd General Conference
of UNESCO vote unanimously in favour of an International
convention on Cultural Diversity, which will be
a significant support during the next round of
the WTO. The European Union, with its twenty five
member states, pursues through the Media 2007
Programme the objectives of preserving and strengthening
the cultural diversity and the audiovisual heritage
of Europe.
As
previously mentioned in our November
newsletter and following the Draft
discussion paper, FIAM wishes to tackle this
issue and has initiated a study in Canada with
Associations and concerned authorities so to:
- Establish
a consensus between the MIDC industry and the
government bodies of the Federal the provincial
levels on the definition of the sector;
- Identify
the existing and the new indicators that should
be part of the NAICS 2007 version;
- Bring
the other international organisations involved
in similar processes to consider supporting
the classification method that will emerge from
this study.
For
as long as the Associations and the Federation
that represents them have not made a stand on
this matter, it will be very difficult to make
a common cause on those important issues that
are essential to the survival and growth of the
industry.
André
G. Côté, Director-general
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FIAM’s
Multimedia World Watch (M2W) Publishes a New Study
The
M2W has just issued a new study called “Ensuring
the sustainability of online cultural and heritage
content: from an economic model to an adapted
strategy”, commissioned by the Canadian
Culture Online Branch of the Department of Canadian
Heritage, with a view to improving management
of programs supporting the online availability
of cultural and heritage content.
Gabon
At
Last! Daily Information on the European Digital
Markets : Since mid March, Digital
Media Europe (
