Mediterranean Digital Conference

MEDIGITAL 2009

April 21-23, 2009 - Rome

Event promoted by the Presidency of Regione Lazio

European and Mediterranean audiovisual development in the digital age:  integrated promotion of culture between opportunities provided by the network and copyright protection

 

The Digital Age is rooted in the development of audiovisual works as a way to use different media on different platforms: movie theatres, DVD, mobile phones, Internet...

It is one of the main tools for meeting and discussing, which represents the main road for integrating different cultures and expressions, in Europe and Mediterranean Areas.

Films and television programmes can make use of new opportunities not only for their production and fruition but also for the promotion and dissemination on digital platforms, that make it easier for them to be disseminated, at least theoretically.

On their cultural and commercial path there are some obstacles: their accessibility (products that can be sold on the market) involves high piracy risks, that limit their commercial impact on the markets and therefore their absolute value.

The Conference is promoted by Regione Lazio and aims at focussing the discussion between Europe and the Mediterranean Countries on the audiovisual product as main medium to tell stories and make the wealth and strength of respective cultures known in a perspective of meeting and exchange but in particular in view of the twofold cultural and commercial nature.

In these three days we will reflect upon, deepen and discuss the creation, production and dissemination issues related to audiovisual products in the Mediterranean and European Areas. An international professionals' network will deal with operative subjects for audience training and definition of clear rules which could enable market access in view of the evolution of legislations and their protection as well as protection against piracy.

 

Fighting piracy in the European Union perspective

 

The change in the international audiovisual legislation change needs a new comparison model between States and local companies. This is necessary not only to fight IT piracy but also to promote audiovisuals for young people and, above all, in schools.

It is, therefore, very important to promote the culture of legality as multicultural value and Italy as a meeting point for a new possibility to work in this field and as a meeting point between Europe and the emerging countries in the Mediterranean basin.

The fight against piracy, the development of a new cultural policy for copyright protection are the basis for a healthier international industry. In this industry it would be important to find enough funds for young and emerging authors, otherwise damaged by piracy actions.

As a matter of fact,, in times of in crisis times young directors and film-makers are generally the main victims of economic cuts due to loss in profits. In a world of piracy there is no room for research and experiments.

For the first time, representatives of institutions, industries and culture will sit together to think about the need for fighting piracy as main way to develop an audiovisual world which should take advantage of all its potential to tell stories, entertain audiences, above all, become a faithful mirror of our society, without illegality and assuring the good quality of works.

 

 

MEDITERRANEAN DIGITAL CONFERENCE®

(MeDigital® 2009)

Under the Patronage of Commissioner Mrs. Viviane Reding, member of the European Commission and responsible of the Information Society and Media