User illusion: ideological construction of ‘user-generated content’ in the EC consultation on copyright

Erickson, K. (2014) User illusion: ideological construction of ‘user-generated content’ in the EC consultation on copyright. Internet Policy Review, 3(4), pp. 1-19. (doi: 10.14763/2014.4.331)

[img]
Preview
Text
98611.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

282kB

Publisher's URL: http://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/user-illusion-ideological-construction-user-generated-content-ec-consultation

Abstract

Recent policy consultations by the UK Intellectual Property Office, the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Commission (EC) have highlighted the importance of user-generated content in debates to reform copyright. User-generated content (UGC) – often combining existing copyright material with transformative creativity – remains a contested terrain, with no clear or widely accepted definition. This paper examines how various stakeholders in the 2014 EC consultation on copyright attempted to shape the definition of UGC in order to suit their interests, sometimes aligning or conflicting with other stakeholder groups. Data from 203 written responses by registered stakeholders (authors, platform intermediaries and users) were subjected to a discourse analysis methodology. Key arguments and policy preferences from each stakeholder group are identified and discussed.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:UGC, Copyright, DMCA takedown, discourse analysis, participatory culture
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Erickson, Professor Kristofer
Authors: Erickson, K.
Subjects:J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe)
J Political Science > JX International law
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Law
Journal Name:Internet Policy Review
Publisher:Alexander Von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 The Author
First Published:First published in Internet Policy Review 3(4):1-19
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record