力武 健次

Internet streaming broadcast has become a strong empowerment tool for individuals and small groups to distribute their opinions in various audio and video formats. The audio broadcast requires less bandwidth and has become more popular than the video. In this paper, the author focuses on the audio distribution issues. This paper first analyzes the restrictions imposed on Internet audio-streaming broadcast, focusing on the content handling issues. The paper argues that the following current practices undermine the opportunities for individuals and small groups with low budgets to broadcast on the Internet: ・Serial Copy Management System, a copy-protection scheme implemented on the consumer-type audio devices; ・persistent activities of the music-distribution industry to tax private copying; ・prohibiting recording of streamed content, although the recording is legal and the method is widely available; and ・Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), which will make the music-distribution industry secure, while the rights of the listeners become less secure. The paper proposes an alternative model to give more opportunities for Internet streaming broadcast to individuals and small groups, while preserving intellectual property rights. The model includes the following schemes: ・removing mandatory copy-protection systems on digital audio interfaces; ・removing existing blanket taxation on private copying; ・introducing watermarking methods on the content production systems for claiming copyright of audio content; and ・Broadcasting Assistance Provider, which acts as the clearinghouse of licensing issues and technical requirements between the content producers and the listeners.