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Re: [kFW] Kendra Manifesto - will you sign up?...
On Feb 11, 2004, at 11:47 am, Justin Keery wrote:
Sure, but there has only been discussion of marketing the system and
the
idea of the system, and technological issues such as metadata.
There's been lot's of discussion all over the show AFAICT, but
regardless, I'm agreeing with you. I'm saying that my vision of Kendra
includes getting people together to discuss ways of making content
distribution work better for all parties. Which is compatible with your
vision of Kendra too. So, groovy. I think it's a good idea.
I have not seen any Kendra-sponsored debate on the broader issues such
as "how could record companies make more money", "is DRM a good idea
right now", "what do media consumers want" etc
I like those questions in the context of getting to a world where I can
"access/publish what I want, when I want and be able to pay/charge for
it". It's important to have the context for the debate direction, yes?
Not sure exactly what "Kendra-sponsored" means. Could you elaborate?
I envisage a web site where you can find out about:
- Major sources of downloadable / streamable media
- Streaming / downloadable media protocols and applications
- DRM technologies and their implementations
- Player technologies
- Other organisations with an interest in this area
(eg frauenhofer, RIAA etc etc)
- Some Kendra-originated summaries of the issues to provide focus
I also envisage Kendra providing:
- a focus for media organisations looking for informed comment on the
above
- events/workshops on the above
Wow! That all sounds really cool.
Great, and let's be careful that it is all "useable" and accessible to
people who are accustomed to structured content!
Absolutely! That is the key. Loads of people are putting up loads of
useful content/information but, because they put it up rather free
form, it's very difficult to actually use the information.
I am looking for the following:
- A platform from which to voice my opinion (let's be honest here!)
- A platform where others are encouraged to voice theirs
- A platform for debate
I'm assuming this is all the same platform that you're talking about,
yes?
I think an "opinion" area of the web site, distinct from "information"
area, could support this.
Sounds good.
Just as Kendra has in the past organised events to talk about the
technology from a mostly technical point of view, I would like some
future events with a focus on debate, bringing together content owners,
technology owners, and users.
Great. Totally agree.
I also think Kendra could provide a "rent-a- vox pop" service to the
media, when a spokesperson is needed on digital media matters.
Well, we could match-make between the media and spokespeople (much like
we do with the speakers and event organisers lists). But Kendra
Initiative can't "rent" out people. Justin Keery can charge what he
likes for being used as a spokesperson (I've got a feeling that the
media don't usually pay however). And Justin can make a donation back
to Kendra if he wishes. But none of this is obligatory. I'm just
repeating Modus Operandi here - Kendra doesn't sell/rent/charge for
anything.
Great! But the *stated* aim is to build it! Not to "see it happen".
Yes. That's why this discussion is useful. We're talking about how to
make the message better. It's why we need a more detailed manifesto for
people to sign up to. So, in full we could say:
Kendra Initiative, an independent non-profit organisation, has been
established to see the creation of an open architecture system that
will provide the entertainment/content industry with a platform for
content distribution and delivery over the Internet and facilitating
revenue generation for content owners/aggregators and service
providers.
Yes?
Yes, however Kendra has not focused on Information or Advocacy to date,
or even acknowledged that these might be activities in which Kendra
might be involved.
Regardless of whether these are new or old ideas I think these are good
ideas now.
That said, I'd be really interested to know what your whole
statement of *prioritising advocacy and education/information
over the development of a platform* means in terms of what we
actually do. Do we do it first? Or spend more time on it?
Spend more time on it.
Put it higher on the website menu.
Or just give it equal billing on the website menu would be fine.
Sounds cool to me.
A simple explanation of the importance of metadata, and examples of
what
it might do and now it might work would be GREAT!!!!
I think a well-structured talk which can be delivered at conferences
(with some punchy mock-up examples and a groovier title than
"metadata")
would be of huuuuuuuge value.
Cool.
My hypothesis is DRM is currently hampering growth in downloads because
DRM as it stands means that a download is far less flexible than an MP3
or CD rip (or just an old-fashioned CD).
My second hypothesis is that failure to release entire catalogue (and
to
provide a single source to search for all labels' artists) means that
Kazaa and friends provide an easier place to find what you want.
Following from these, I therefore postulate that given a "single
source"
for low-cost downloads offering a full catalogue, there would be far
more interest in legal downloads. I would be at the front of the queue
with my credit card ready.
Well, I couldn't have said it better myself! We've got to make the
technology invisible - got to make the acts of finding/publishing and
purchasing/charging seamless. All cool.
My proposed skeleton manifesto for Kendra assumes the following:
Kendra is an organisation to promote the concept of "access to any
media, any time, anywhere - with the ability to pay/charge for it".
This is a good manifesto for consumers of content but, to
clarify, when you "access" media then, correct me if I'm
wrong, you generally "pay"
for it and not "charge" for it. So, if I may restate your
skeleton manifesto thus: "giving content consumers access to
any media, any time, anywhere - with the ability to pay for it".
Sure.
So, we also need the content ingress and hence include the
content owners/creators without whom we'd have no content.
Therefore, we also want Kendra to promote the concepts of
"giving content owners/creators publishing access to global
media distribution channels - with the ability to charge for it".
Makes sense
And we should also not forget the service providers stuck in
the middle. We don't want to disenfranchise them. So, we also
want Kendra to promote the concepts of "giving service
providers ability to charge for their services". This is
really about enabling accounting of media/payment transactions.
Or advocating ways of doing it.
Or providing useful information on the subject.
Promotion of concept can also include assisting with
demonstration trials, can't it?
Yes, this is what the R&D arm does.
I'd really like the manifesto to appeal to content
owners/creators/publishers as well as consumers.
Of course, we will fail otherwise.
And also have the service providers represented too - although I think
they'll pretty much tag along - but it's good for PR.
They will mainly tag along if they can get something out of it.
Advocacy
and information can help here too.
OK. So where does that leave us in terms of the manifesto? Perhaps we
divide it into 2 parts: one of aims and one of methodology. Remember we
need something defined (more defined than we have) for people to sign
up to.
Kendra's activities will be focused in three areas:
- Advocacy... promotion of the idea by fostering ideas, debate and
communication
- Information... resources useful to those interested in the idea
- R&D... development of technology to further the idea
I am, always have been and always will be open to ideas from
anybody as to how to progress/modify the management of this
here project. So, suggest away.
I would get involved in starting up the advocacy/information side.
"Would" is conditional. What are your conditions?
To be clear Kendra Foundation was *not* set up as a framework
for this "process" of decision making.
"organisational framework" implies process and perhaps the ability to
make decisions.
Sorry, please explain what you're getting at here?
My further involvement in this project is dependent on support for my
proposed extension of Kendra's activities into the areas of Advocacy
and Information.
I'd be interested to know how you *measure* this "support".
And so know when you've got it or not.
Right now all I feel I need is support from Daniel and the few people
who seem to regularly show up at Kendra events.
I'm laboring the point because I don't want there to be any
misconceptions about expectations about what form this support comes
in. That's why I asked how you measure it. Essentially, what do you
want from me and other people? If I and others say we support you then
what does that actually mean? You need to just say what you want from
us in order for you to be happy to continue.
For example, if I propose to re-write the Kendra front page (and
several
others) and nobody says "no, don't do that", then that would be great.
I, for one, would say great stuff. At some point we need to discuss the
mechanisms for doing this so we may as well do it now. I reckon the
best way to go is to use the wiki to host the proposed text. Send out
an email when it's up requesting comments - that's what I tend to do
now.
If you have another way you want to do it. Give it a shot and see if it
flies - that's all I've ever done.
A while back I started to look at how to restructure the website. It
would be great to work with someone on it...
http://www.kendra.org.uk/wiki/wiki.pl?KendraWebsiteIdeas
Cheers Daniel