The problem

By the end of the last decade, people across the world were catching on to a new way of obtaining music – via internet downloads. With the advent of broadband, interest has rocketed. Consequently, music is now a major driver of internet-related business: file sharing or Peer-to-Peer (P2P) activities relating to audio and audio-visual products accounts for about 50% of all broadband traffic. However, file sharing comes with problems: content owners fear loss of control of their digital assets, and the anonymous use of file-sharing software makes it difficult to optimise network efficiency. What’s more, P2P technology can be used to distribute malicious software, such as viruses.

Overview:

The MUSICLESSONS project aims to provide research on the problems and challenges relating to file sharing which will be of interest to policy-makers and the entertainment industry. The project will use socio-economic and technological research to assess conflicting trends, and carry out a Europe-wide study of consumer attitudes towards music downloading.

The objective is to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of how new technology affects the sector and develop emerging business models
• Evaluate the threats and opportunities related to
  P2P technologies
• Identify conflicts between the legal and technical issues that surround file sharing

Contribution to policy development:

• The project will provide policy-makers with an improved understanding of broadband applications and their impact on the music business, helping them to balance the needs of industry and users.
• Results should also be of interest to policy-makers working in related fields covering e-business, e-government and e-work.
• Specifically, the results are likely to feed into the work of a number of EU directorates-general, for example Competition, Education and Culture, Information Society, and the Internal Market.

Project deliverables

• Carry out a review of existing policy as it relates to legal and technical issues – June 2005
• Produce a Europe-wide statistical survey of user behaviour – September 2005
• Develop project business models – December 2005
• Workshop for industry, users and Commission representatives – towards end of project
• Workshop report and final project report – July 2006

Dissemination

• Project team will make personal visits to selected EU officials to explain MUSICLESSONS’ objectives, activities and results.
• Selected members of the scientific community will receive regular updates about
  the project’s activities.
• Record companies, music publishers, software companies and artists’ organisations will also receive regular updates.
• Project website offers comprehensive overview of project.

Technical information

Project acronym: MUSICLESSONS
Project’s official full title: Broadband technologies transforming business models and challenging regulatory frameworks – lessons from the music industry
Research priority: 3.5. Information Society issues (such as management and protection of digital assets, and inclusive access to the information society)
Specific webpage: http://w1.nada.kth.se/media/Research/MusicLessons/
Proposal/contract no: Not available
Start date: January 2005
Kick off meeting: Not available
Completion date: July 2006
European Commission scientific officer: Guido Acchioni, guido.acchioni@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Kungl Tekniska Högskolan
Abbreviated name: KTH
Address: SE-100 44 Stockholm
Country: Sweden
Tel: +46 8 790 4267
Fax: +46 8 751 1793
Website: http://kth.se/

Partners

Name: World Internet Institute
Abbreviated name: WII
Country: Sweden