Archive for September, 2009

Yesterday savvy heavies and websurfers were focused on the latest FCC hearing on broadband- the 24th since embarking on establishing a national broadband policy. As reported upon in Broadcasting & Cable, John Horrigan, consumer research director for the initiative, “the underlying goal was to figure out what drives adoption, specifically what users wants”.
Judging by those testifying, the main interest was in how to put high value content on the internet- something users have shown they want- and make sure content creators, owners, and broadband providers are compensated- something users are at best ambivalent about.
With high profile representatives like Dan Glickman of the MPAA (“It must be a safe and secure environment”) and Patrick Ross, ED of the Copyright Alliance (“there needs to be a clear distinction between legal and illegal content”) it was clear that the challenge of providing users with quality content and content owners with compensation looms large not just for the content companies, but for providers, and government as evidenced by Patent & Trademark Office rep Michael Shapiro pointing out his office’s “keen interest” in the plan and the “great peril” that the plan might increase piracy.
While it isn’t clear that the hearing produced any paths toward answering the challenge, last week’s release of “The Beatles – Rock Band” along with remastered versions of the Beatles catalog made very clear that the users have no problem paying for both the music and the game. With Abbey Road the top selling album again, and the game expected to have its unique instruments sold out by November, the Beatles once again are proving that content is king.
What hasn’t been reported is any piracy. Extraordinary security and secrecy marked the long project and its many products. Next week we’ll examine how this set of releases may point at new models of content business, where relationship and service are emphasized over products.
Also in the news recently, the Digital Watermarking Alliance announced at IBC in Amsterday last week that “2009 has been a banner year in commercialization and adoption of digital watermarking solutions.”
Noteworthy for USA Videointeractive shareholders is that none of the items on the inventory of the banner year includes contracts with major studios, such as their company has. Since USVO is not a DWA member, it follows that our accomplishments aren’t featured. The list does put USVO’s accomplishments into a context that evidences what has often been stated here- USVO has accomplished more with less ( much much less) than other players in the watermarking space.