Genero distribution model
May 16, 2015
Genero distribution model
The big picture
Members of society wants
• …while maintaining Free speech
• …while maintaining Privacy
• …while maintaining Free communication
• Quality is subjective from the user perspective. Production cost does not equate to value.
In order to gain access to knowledge and culture, it must first be produced, then made available to the user
To have access to as much knowledge and culture as possible
Needs analysis
Sender
• Distribution– From only family to the whole world
• Recognition– From anonymous to pseudonym to
attention hogger
• Content control– From copyright to copyleft
• Feedback– From concerts to fanclubs
• Artistic freedom– Free speech
• Monetary compensation– From none to lots
Reciever
• Embodiment
– From whatever to roadie
• Patronage
– From none to everything
• Influence
– Incluence creators, reward, feedback etc
• Share with peers
– Part of identity
• Use and reuse content
– Create and modify, sample
These are just examples. FriBit is performing a complete needs analysis
Conventional distribution model
Content owner
User
Distributor
Content ownerContent owner
User User
Example: Warner
User
Content owner
MSN Music
User User
Warner store
Warner music
Content ownerContent owner
iTunes
Example: Apple
Content owner
User
Content ownerContent owner
User User
iPod
iTunes
iPhone Apple TV
Example: Nokia
Content owner
User
Content ownerContent owner
User User
N96
OVI
N95 N…
Main problem with current distribution model
- Lack of competition
- Exclusivity
• Little competition in distribution
– Each distributor signs exclusive distribution agreements
– Even though content is available through many channels, each channel has signed an exclusive agreement
• Little competition in content
– Unsigned content owners dont have access to the same distribution channels
– Once signed, the distributor often has exclusive rights for content distribution
Introducing Genero
• The Internet has had success because its distributed, open and non-exclusive. Genero will work similarly, being a distribution model rather than a distributor.
• Genero will create a solid, fundamentally correct and future-proof system that adresses the needs of the users and the creators
• Introduce competition in all links of the value chain
• Genero is currently being developed by Fribit (an NPO with the purpose of promoting Free Culture), with intent to transfer development to the libraries when they are ready
Guidelines for Genero
• No exclusive rights for anyone– Anyone can become a distributor or aggregator as long as they retain licence conditions
– Anyone can create derivative works as long as they maintain licence conditions
• No lawsuits– Genero will be managed by norm and community rather than lawyers
• Trust based– Enforcement of rules, attributions etc is based on trust systems. If the community
deems you to be a non-trusted fellow, your content or channel will be marked as such and avoided
• Content independent– Can be used for any kind of material that can be represented in a digital form. Examples
include movies, tv-series, books, music, pictures, software etc
• Location and technology independent– Can be used in any manner of ways in any kind of locations – All content will be
available to all distributors equally
• Entirely API based– All access to Genero registries are based on API’s. Creating entries, accessing entries,
downloading content etc will all be available through API’s
Content ownerOwner of the content. Can be an individual or company
Aggregator
Facilitates access to Content registry
UserConsumes the content
DistributorDistributes content
Content registryPublic registry of Content
Genero model
Content owner
User
Content ownerContent owner
User User
Aggregator
Distributor Distributor
Aggregator
High level overview
Registry
• User
– Consumes content
• Distributor
– Facilitates content access for the user
• Registry
– Stores content registry posts with all details
• Aggregator
– Facilitates the registration and monetization process towards content owner
• Content owner
– Has rights to content
Description of system participants and flows
Writer
User
Public Library Registry
MusicianPainter
User User
Internet Archive
FreeArt.com MSN music store
Registration Co.
Example roles
John Walsh
Peter: Reads the book for free on his PC
Public Library Registry
Walter: Buys the paperback
FreeBooks.com HardPop
Writers Guild
Eksempel of use
$ 5
$ 20free
John’s chosen licence sais digital copies are free, if you publish a paper book give me 5 bucks
Genero licences
• Guiding principles– The purpose of the Genero licences is to remove any obstacles from distributing and
reusing content. All applications and agreements will be prepared for in the licencing. It will be recommended that the content owner accepts a mutable licence that can change as time passes. The intent is that Genero will be a lawyer-free zone.
• Genero Standard– The standard licence for Genero content. All monetization is based on the principle of
gift economy (donations), and the licence will dictate the distribution of donated funds. The licence has a powerful “Copyleft Share Alike" feature, saying all content can be reused by others without restrictions or prior agreements, but the derivative work must be Genero licenced. Commercial derivative works are required to register with Genero, and non-commercial are encouraged to be registered.
• Genero Commercial– Similar to Genero standard, only with an added condition of fixed pricing for content
distribution. Genero Commercial will try to predict any commercial use of any kind of content or technology, and allow the content owner to stipulate financial terms. Strong Share Alike is maintained
Why Genero is better for creators and users
• Better value proposition to creators:
– Instant access to all distributors
– Decides financial terms oneself, low overhead and cost
– Access to material without having to ask for permission
– No hassle, signatures, handshakes or threat of lawsuits
– No meddling in the creative process from distributors
• Better value proposition to users:
– Greater choice amongst content
– Greater choice amongst distribution channels
– Distributors and creators compete in price and functionality
– Consumer rights maintained
Why Genero is better for society
• Typical distribution models place themselves at the center. Like the internet, Genero has no center and will be allowed to develop freely
• Provides viable business models for free (as in speech) content, making for a huge registry of publically available content – like Open Source – that can be readily reused
• Not a threat to privacy, free speech, internet neutrality, medicine, innovation etc the same way conventional (permission) culture is
• Allows everyone simple access to both create using a cultural legacy, and any distribution mechanisms = democratizing both means of production and means of distribution
Who wants to be a Genero distributor?
• Anyone with ambitions within content delivery
– Not in a dominating position (big 4) or has interests in maintaining status quo
– Ambitions within content aggregation or distribution
– Has assets they can leverage
– Creator relationships
– Customer relationships
– Billing
– Brand or technology
– Has a positive view on non-exclusive business models
• Not for profits
– Wikimedia, Libraries, FriBit, artist unions
Links
• FriBit Main page:
www.fribit.no
• Needs analysis: http://www.fribit.no/prosjekter/behovsanalyse/
• Genero project
http://www.fribit.no/prosjekter/genero/
Backup slides
• Process flows
Aggregator
Distributor
Aggregator and Distributor authorization
Registry • Registry owner defines permissions for tracker access (IP ranges, tokens)
tracker
• Aggregator registers as a content aggregator. Preferably click-to-accept, could be a manual validation process
• Distributor registers as a content aggregator. Preferably click-to-accept, could be a manual validation process
Aggregator
Distributor
File transfers between aggregator and distributor
Registry • Registry creates an index based on content in its registry and in federated registries
• Transfers index and deltas twice a day
• Transfers index and deltas twice a day. Index is just to alleviate searches towards registry
• Files are shared. Aggregator would be permanent seed
• Distributor downloads content based on manual selection and policy from index. Probably the torrent files is not stored, but fetched on request
Aggregator
Content registration process
Registry
Content owner
Content type:Music album
Licence type: Genero Standard
Content type: Music album
Content category: flac
song01.flac.torrent
song02.flac.torrent
Content category: mp3 320kbps
song01.mp3.torrent
song02.mp3.torrent
Content category: Source
song01.midi.torrent
song02.midi.torrent
Content category: Misc
music.video.avi.torrent
cover.front.jpg.torrent
cover.back.jpg.torrent
storplakat.jpg.torrent
Registration entry:
Author: John GlennContent owner: SuperPublishContent category: MusicTags: reggae, jazz, fuzzpop
Monetization distribution:
Author- John Glenn: 70%
Aggregator- SuperPublish: 5%
Distributor: 10%
Registry: 3%
Sampled- Peter sellers: 5%
Sampled- Kent: 5%
Sampled- Stingy: 2%
• The public registry approves registrars and distributors
– Can be any company, but must abide by the rules regarding copyright, payment etc
Registrar and Distributor signing
Content owner
User registry
Application
User
Distributor
Aggregator
Application
Content registry
• Content is produced
– Music, movies, TV-series, photos, books, plays etc
– Initially intended for media content, but works equally well for games, applications and other intellectual property
• Licence decicions
– Content producer can make any kind of 3rd party agreement, including sale or revenue-sharing of licenses
Content production and licencing
Content owner
Aggregator
User registry
Application
User
Application
Distributor
Content registry
• Content owner registers with the public registry
– Done through approved registrars, much like domain names
– Content owner provides a copy to the Content registrar of the highest quality available
Content registration
Content owner
Aggregator
User registry
Application
User
Application
Distributor
Content registry
• Distributor accesses registry
– Finds new content in the content registry the distributor wishes to publish
• Retrieves a master copy
– can then create any new suitable version - from FLAC to MP3, from Blue-ray to DVD, DivX, mobile etc
Registrar to distributor publication
Content owner
User registry
Application
User
Distributor
Aggregator
Application
Content registry
• The user purchases a right to create copies
– Can be a CD store, iTunes etc
– The user can decide either to purchase anonymously, or to register that he now owns the rights to that content
– Registration can be facilitated in a number of ways, eg. By registering a credit card with the distributor
Licence purchase
Content owner
Aggregator
User licence registry
Application
User
Application
Distributor
Content registry
• Content is distributed
– The distributor checks the user registry to see what content that user has purchased
– Content can be distributed in a myriad of payment plans and distribution methods… Physical media, streaming, Pay-on demand, torrents, fixed price, bundles etc
Content distribution
Content owner
Aggregator
User registry
Application
User
Application
Distributor
Content registry
• The distributor pays for the licence
– The Distributor checks licence for price, and pays the Aggregator according to licence. Aggregator manages payment allocation
– Can be any kind of payment plan determined by the chosen licence, from fixed price per unit to bulk discounts. Note that this is a fixed part of the licence agreements and is available to all distributors alike.
Content owner payment
User registry
Application
User
Application
Distributor
Content owner
Aggregator
Content registry
Steam as an example
• Focus on the user experience
• Gives the user high degree of functionality and rights
• Stimulates 3rd party development on their products
• Is the best distributor of their own content, thus competing with piracy instead of fighting it
• Result: Very competitive against other distribution channels, including pirate channels