Unexpected Media

InSync Event: Rights Will Make You Rich? January 25th 2007

We keep being told that the key asset in the knowledge economy is intellectual property: that rights will make you rich. But is making money from IPR a real option? Most companies are rooted in a “gun for hire” business model, selling ideas to clients and brand owners who own them because they commission and pay for them.

Until recently, this “cost + 15%” was the business model in television but the indie production sector has been revolutionised by new terms of trade with broadcasters negotiated as a result of the recent Communications Act. Independent TV producers now retain ownership of the IP they create and can exploit it on other platforms and other markets.

Pact, the trade association for independent producers, is negotiating a voluntary agreement with the BBC which will mirror the arrangements for television production and may provide a model. But with a very diverse range of clients and no effective lobbying body or trade association, will businesses in the digital sector be able to establish terms of trade and ways of working which will enable them to own and exploit intellectual property?

I’m aiming to make this a highly interactive event. With the digital media sector still at an early stage of development, I’d like to get as wide a range of examples, opinions and views as possible. Do give me a call or drop me a line if you’d like more information.

The discussion will be framed by Andrew Chitty, MD of Illumina, a key member of Pact s Digital Committee, Ramsey Khoury MD of Head London, and Michael Bedward, responsible for business development at Nesta.

Date: Thursday January 25th 2007
Time: 6.00-8.30pm
Venue : 01zero-one, Hopkins Street, Soho, London W1F 0HS (off Peter Street)

To register for the event please email insync@01zero-one.co.uk

Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=W1F+0HS&ie=UTF8&z&om=1&iwloc=A