a c&binet unconference

So while all of the main programme was going on at c&binet, there were some fringe sessions that were being run on particular topics. And then there was some beyond-the-fringe activity that we as a group labelled an unconference to address the issues that had fallen down between the cracks of all the topics being discussed at the conference over those few days.

I guess it was attended by a number of us relative up-starts (i.e. *not* the majors represented on that incredibly glittering list of delegates) along with the uber-cool, very switched on editor from Wired UK), David Rowan, and a very sound bloke from Edelman (PR company running the show for the c&binet folks). Between us we determined that there were two topics of we wanted to discuss and make some points on.

The first one was grouped under collaborations (how we find ways of working together to do some really cool stuff), and the other was what did we want out of both c&binet in the future and also in terms of government support.

I took barely legible notes for the latter group discussion and so here I am reporting back as promised, and will blog it on both our site and also c&binet, for the record.

Ok so the specific question was: "what do we want out of the government and or c&binet in terms of support for creative industries?"


1) Funding: heh ok. So yes, everyone wants funding and wants it now (it would certainly help cover base costs as the recession sets in). When we dig further however (i.e. beyond that obvious desire), it's probably fair to say that we want the processes for finding it, applying for it and getting it to be easier. We're not accountants, and in many instances we need to be to fight the damn paperwork..

2) Partnerships, collaborations and facilitations: that old adage "it ain't what you know but who you know too" springs to mind. It's all very well having big names at conferences like these but for the shy little company in the corner (and in some instances those corners could get rather crowded) sometimes it's enough to just do a bit of a loaded introduction within the context of potential work together. After all, the government has influence over all those who want to have influence on the government (i.e. the majors). Why not use it??

3) Legal support: this is a very interesting one. Some recurring themes and words came up throughout the formal part of the conference, like "copyright", "rights management", "P2P" (which incidentally was branded an evil technology by some at the conference - P2Pilia?? or perhaps P2Pillage), carrots and sticks. With all of this baggage it has become evident that if you're creating content in any way, you probably need a legal team in order to protect it or at least protect your right to distribute it the way you want to. So yes, legal support. Good, comprehensive legal support sympathetic and knowledgeable about creative industries and issues facing them.

4) More regional support: that's basically anyone not within the London area :-)

5) Courses in Leadership: now this came up because apparently Ashridge had run something like that for creatives before. Access to that would be very nice, thanks!

6) PR support: no good having a great idea if no-one knows about it. And some of us just simply have no resource to devote to PR activity. I think some of this activity is taken care of by cluster groups around the country, but I think some specialist PR support is what might be needed.


7) Business Links need educating about the value of the creative sector and an understanding of the technologies. Perhaps that's one for membership bodies like PACT?

8) As for c&binet itself, the next event should have access to plug points (having been cut off mid-tweet myself I think they'd have had alot more interaction and engagement had the venue thought of this). The physical layout of the event was also not conducive to intimacy (in terms of quality of conversations, questions from the floor etc). Cheaper accomodation options would have also been handy (though as I understand it, £280 a night *was* cheap for the venue!!)

9) We want to think of c&binet not just as an event or a forum but a network/partnership. Also want more workshop activity to enable discourse between the majors and the minors(?).

10) beyond c&binet there needs to be more opportunities for showcasing new business ideas, new models, new innovations and technologies coming out of creative industries.

11) specifically aimed at the Technology Strategy Board (Alex Stanhope was in our circle), we wanted to know how to take a project forward after a scheme like Fast Track for example i.e. what happens next to the IP that is created - what are the options and pathways? (I'd actually like more support for actually getting that sort of funding in the first place!)


That's quite a list and there are probably loads more we could add.

I also personally wanted there to be meta-data for every delegate distributed so that we can find people based on interests (likes/dislikes/technologies/business interests etc). So much more could have been made of the network had we known this stuff, and also what everyone is up to. That sort of contextual information instantly adds value, which means that you don't have to read peoples' bios in order to get a feel for what they'd be interested in chatting about.


The lovely chap from Edelman was very open to suggestions, especially this is the first conference of its sort and that they needed companies/people to support them or want to become involved in order to make the next one even better. There was also a suggestion that the next one could be in Bristol (*no* idea who made that suggestion lol).

If I've missed anything then please say so. In the mean time I'll post this to the c&binet blog. A brilliant bloke called Evan took the business cards of everyone who attended our little unconference and so if you want to know who else attended, just ask :-).

cheers,

Jaya (in need of more caffeine in order to make more sense!)

nameless


P.S. You can also take a look at Clare Reddington's summary of the other discussion on collaboration going on in the unconference

c&binet creative infrastructure thoughts

if anything, we need to simplify how rights management happens. Encourage reuse of content and related income generation, and allow the artists whose content is being used the ability to make money too (along side the artist doing the reusing). Are pirates of today the content producers of tomorrow? Dunno. I don't really understand rights management well enough to debate it. I do know however that it's not working. Somehow they need to wrap up ownership of content with the right to reuse it provided income goes back to the original artist. Reusers shouldn't need their own legal department in order to do this. If we think in terms of Darwin and evolution, more robust organisms come out of reuse of the original blueprints (DNA :-)) and improving on them (we're basically DNA mash-ups!). If each new "product" or organism had to pay a royalty in order to make use of those blueprints this planet would be a whole different place. Ok the analogy is a bit dodgy but perhaps you get my point.

Ok so now onto the fantastic folks I've met so far. It was great to see a familiar face in Paul Tarplee from twofour (sitting on my right at this moment). Also a really cool guy from a company that owns the rights to the Enid Blyton estate (noddy through famous five, mallory towers...). How cool is that?! Then there's Robert from an independent record company, audio networks (they work with Nik Kershaw). Very progressive business model there and also very transparent. Alex Stanhope from the TSB (running the next session after coffee). Managed to heckle the Secretary of State (Ben Bradshaw) last night. In a friendly way ofcourse - he's actually a really good bloke. Genuinely gives a damn. Also met a very clever Canadian from Nordicity. Actually there are a number of great Canadians in the audience. Coincidence? I think that in many ways perhaps they're tackling alot of the issues we're discussing here in far more open ways. I'll probably want to look more closely at what they're doing over there now after being exposed to their thinking.


Clare Reddington of course from iShed, flying the flag for Bristol and the Watershed.

c&binet commentary

Lots of random thoughts occurring as I listen to the folks on the stage. Forgive me if they don't form full sentences!

We seem to be going around in circles on this "protect copyright at all costs" thing. Lots of big boys looking to preserve that status quo. Strong words being used like "theft". Adding value to content is the only way to make money from it in the future.

Great guy asking a question and saying that content authors/musicians fear obscurity more than piracy.

Another saying piracy dropping in the world by 40% without any strong arm tactics (lots from the establishment saying you need carrots and sticks with the emphasis on sticks). That's the guy from the open rights group (of which we're members!).

Interestingly and sadly this conference, which is all about digital and content really, doesn't have power points available in the room which means that twitterers with hardware that has crappy battery life can only participate for the first half hour lol.

Perhaps we need to look at where people do buy on a pay per use. The public don't really understand licencing (and their rights to use the content that they buy in the way that they use).

On the stage is the publisher behind Dan Brown. Obviously very defensive about ensuring that their content is protected. Says that the publisher adds value by selecting, editing and then publishing. Filtering out the crap. I don't think there's an argument against that.

Chappy from govt keeps talking about stopping people breaking the law. Great chap, Chris, heckling from LBI making the point that prohibition has never worked. He rightly says that you need to build your business models around human behaviour.

Content will always be king - but it's the route for other businesses to access highly targetted audiences. Advertising models will need to change a bit but there's alot to that approach. Carrots and no sticks - sounds about right. Trying to stem P2P is pointless and futile.

The word "rights" comes up constantly. Think we need a show: "whose rights are they anyway?" because they're all living in fear of a lawsuit because they don't know who owns the rights in order to safely release or give access to certain bits of content (museums for example).

Content as a service/subscription seems to be a really good way forward. Quantising content into content "products" is opening up a whole world of pain in terms of regulation, DRM, protection etc. Don't know about anyone else in the room but I'm feeling quite frustrated that the act of letter-writing to 14 year old kids is cited as something that is going to sort everything out. Stop thinking about consumers as the criminals. Think of them as VOTERS. They vote with their money. If there is something worth buying, they will buy it.

Battery life is now practically gone so I'll publish. More when I find more juice!

c&binet fever

well, I've finally got to Watford and now waiting for a taxi to take me to c&binet - which sounds like some sort of closet conference but is actually focussed on creative industries and digital in particular. It's pretty exciting with lots of big names going. We already know Clare Reddington from iShed and Alex Stanhope from TSB (not the bank), but short of that I can't see anyone else in the members list that hails from Bristol.

Loads of interesting topics and plenty of room for debate. I'm looking forward to learning lots and also taking part. This is a DCMS thing - and looks to be an action point that is related to the digital britain report. Obviously I'm very happy that nameless is represented there but I think this is about far bigger issues than just being a little name in a long list of who's who of digital Britain. I think it's up to us and companies like us to move the sector up a notch.

If you take a look at the site for c&binet you'll see a whole list of delicious topics for us all to get our teeth into. The smiley Peter Mandleson will be there and if I get the chance I'll want to find out how he is planning on ensuring that companies like ours flourish rather than get taxed to hell along with every other poor small business over the next few years :-).

ooh. taxi might be here. Gotta run! Will report back as things happen - probably tweeting mostly. Follow me if you like (@jayacg).

derren brown special birthday message to nameless

ok, so after it's first and only viewing at our birthday party, many have requested that they see Derren's unique and very special birthday message to nameless again. So we youtubed it. Ok, he does say a rude word in it, but on the scale of things I think its the thought that counts! He obviously would have attended the party himself but he had his hands full (with the lottery silly, not umm other things!).