A levy for the age of the cloud? : Can a broadband levy be the answer to dealing with the increasing amount of unlicensed cultural content online?

Abstract

The background for the thesis is to look into if a broadband levy may be the answer to the increasing challenges of monetizing unlicensed cultural content on the internet, and if such a levy can work in an age where traditional elements, covered by previous levies, moves over to media that is not covered, such as streaming and cloud storage. To do so, I have used the methodological approach of exploratory research, combined with qualitative interviews of four respondents who has great insight of the music industry from different view points. The first two chapters involves an insight into existing challenges and previously introduced levies on broadband, in order to form a foundation for comparison and analysis. Chapter three presents methodology. The fourth chapter is dedicated to responses from informants on key questions, in order to form a solid basis for discussion in chapter five, and a conclusion in chapter six. The findings are that it is possible to, in a simple way, introduce a levy on broadband in a widely digitalized market like Norway. This can be done somewhat in accordance with existing copyright structures. The question is whether or not it is necessary. In terms of this, the thesis leans towards a negative response in terms of necessity. One of the major issues of monetising cultural content on the internet today is related to platform services such as Facebook, Youtube and Google, and their lack of remuneration of this content with basis in the recently dismissed Safe Harbour agreement. Despite the fact that it may be possible to introduce a levy on broadband fairly simply, this could lead to so many changes in the structure, that it may be of more value to focus the energy on a topic that may lead to a similar result in terms of monetizing cultural content; regulating the internet and focusing on monetizing platform services. The conclusion presents a number of ways of introducing a broadband levy, but asks whether or not it is necessary to focus on it, based on the fact that there may be more prominent challenges in terms of monetizing cultural content,