Dutch ISP XS4ALL proposes to break stalemate copyright discussion by putting everything online

Dutch Internet provider XS4ALL takes position in the debate about the future of copyright in the online environment. The ISP is not pleased with its sector facing constant proposals by rights holders for solving what the ISPs see as the rights holders’ problems. XS4ALL now presents their own solution: put all movies and music instantly online. Rights holders, in the proposal, receive a “reasonable remuneration”.

XS4ALL, that has called the plan “music and movies 4ALL”, proposes to make it obligatory to put movies and music online, simultaneous with the international release and in a quality that is equal to other types of releases. The ISP imagines an iTunes-like portal where consumers can go for their media needs. There, they can select and pay for the media they wish.

The ISP has started a petition to call the attention of the Dutch Parliament to this solution. When they succeed in collection 40.000 supporting autographs, the proposal needs to be treated by Parliament. After one day, almost 6000 people have indicated their support. XS4ALL thinks that the number of 40.000 pledges will be met easily.

The idea sounds very attractive, but there are some downsides. The business model of especially the movie industry is based on a complex mix of channels and staged releases. Recently, Dutch cinemas threatened to boycott Alice in Wonderland because the producer wanted to shorten the period between the cinematic release and the DVD release. When one demands of producers that they release their products worldwide instantaneously, one creates problems throughout the economic chain, such as with cinemas and shops, states Webwereld.

That doesn’t mean that it is an interesting dynamic that parties from different backgrounds start to come up with alternatives and as such provide much needed constructive contributions to the debate.

 28 April 2010