Digital Content is a varied and wide-reaching sector, which includes publishing, software, web development, graphic design, computer games, and broadcasting. It spans the whole range of companies that use the tools and functions of interactive media to bring new digital content products and services to market. The convergence of delivery platforms and the introduction of broadband technologies mean that there are many issues on the horizon for digital content producers to consider.

We work with the digital content industries on a range of activities aimed at raising competitiveness and productivity, in particular through the industry organization, the Digital Content Forum (DCF). The DCF brings together trade associations and other membership bodies from across the digital content industries. The DCF gathers views across its membership, gives input into the Government policymaking process, develops shared knowledge and promotes innovation and excellence across the sector. Working with the DTI, it recently produced "UK Digital Content: Exploiting the Opportunity", which identified core issues for the industry and set out its manifesto for growth.

Full details of the DCF and "Exploiting the Opportunity" can be found on the DCF website at www.dcf.org.uk/

Digital Content and Broadband
Broadband creates a number of opportunities for digital content, and the DTI has been working with industry to take them forward. Significant progress has been made over the past 12 months.

In June 2002, following the "Broadband Britain Summit", the DTI and Digital Content Forum (DCF) jointly commissioned a report on the future of broadband content. The report Broadband Content Pilots is available from the download area of this site.

The recommendations included developing pilots to study whether the Government should intervene in this market, and if so, how. The Minister of e-Commerce and Competitiveness, Stephen Timms, then agreed to a feasibility study on three of the recommended pilots:

• tools for collaborative working within a Creative Industries Cluster
  
• a broadband visitor project examining the added value of broadband as opposed to narrowband content
  
• 'The Broadband Channel' - as a commissioner of broadband content

The study, which was completed in April 2003, recommended that the three proposed pilots should proceed. An important aim of the study was to assess the pilots' potential impact on the productivity and competitiveness of the broadband sector. The research included interviews and workshops with industry participants, and an analysis of the technical and financial viability of each pilot. The report is now available on the DCF website and can also be downloaded as a PDF from the download area of this site.

Update at August 2003:  We are currently gathering responses to the report from a wide range of organisations in the public and private sectors.  The analysis of this feedback will inform the DTI’s response to the study. At the same time, we are having on-going discussions with the Regions and other key stakeholders on the best way to progress the pilot recommendations.

Contact:
Mervyn Levin
Telephone: +44  (0)20 7215 0812
E-mail: mervyn.levin@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Click here to access DTI Telecommunications - broadband pages and information relating to broadband infrastructure. 

Digital Rights Management (DRM)
Digital Rights Management is an important issue for the content industries, and we have worked with industry on this as part of the work of the Broadband Stakeholder Group.  It is aimed to create an inventory of current content management systems, and generate greater knowledge about likely value chains and the major economic, legal and technical issues at different points in such chains. A framework is to be set up within which elements of DRM will be evaluated. The DRM report is now available on the BSG website covering, inter alia:

• review of metadata initiatives
• review of rights expression language development
• review of secure computing technologies and initiatives 
• interoperability
• copyright: fair dealing, private copying, and non-commercial use
• electronic payment systems
• consumer protection issues
• competition law
• international context

Contact:
Adrian Brazier
Telephone: +44  (0)20 7215 1295
E-mail: adrian.brazier@dti.gsi.gov.uk

EU Initiatives relevant to Digital Content and Publishing
EU initiatives of possible interest in the digital content and publishing areas include:

Proposed directive on re-use and exploitation of public sector information
The public consultation period was for three months, which ended on 4^th December 2003 and to which we will be responding in due course. The aim of this consultation was to seek views on how the proposed Directive can be implemented in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The public consultation document and accompanying Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment can be downloaded as PDF from the download area of this site, noting that the consultation period ended on 4^th December 2003. These documents are primarily concerned with addressing the ways in which we can ensure that the public sector in the United Kingdom implements most effectively and efficiently the new measures set out in the proposed European Directive in a way that fully complies with the Directive.

Contact:
Adrian Brazier
Telephone: +44  (0)20 7215 1295
E-mail: adrian.brazier@dti.gsi.gov.uk

eContent
eContent is a market-oriented programme, run by the European Commission, which aims to support the production, use and distribution of European digital content, and to promote linguistic and cultural diversity on the global networks.

The third call for project proposals was published in December 2002 and the Work Programme 2003/2004 is available together with other information about the programme on the eContent website www.cordis.lu/econtent

Contact:
Adrian Brazier
Telephone: +44  (0)20 7215 1295
E-mail: adrian.brazier@dti.gsi.gov.uk

eTEN
The eTEN programme helps bring new services and applications to the European market. The Trans-European Telecommunications networks programme could help companies launch new services based on communications networks. It can provide financial support at the planning stage or for the initial investment.

eTEN is aimed at:

• applications and services of public interest
• developing European market opportunities
• encouraging the development of an inclusive
  information society
• improving the competitiveness of European industry
• strengthening the internal European market
• improving European economic and social cohesion
• encouraging new activities leading to job creation

More information is available from the European Commission website.

Contact: Adrian Brazier
Telephone: +44  (0)20 7215 1295
E-mail: adrian.brazier@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Other EC support
The European Commission also funds Information Society Research and Development programmes. More information about these opportunities is available on the UKISHELP website www.ukishelp.co.uk.