Role Playing Lifts Legal Aspects of Digital Live Concerts
In 2015 Jesper Larsson was manager at Malmo Live, and when the premises were completed, the idea of creating an opportunity to deliver art experiences even in a digital format was raised. Visitors to a real concert choose their own experience through which seat they sit in, what company they bring with them and what they choose to focus on. Why not provide the same opportunities for those who sit at home on the couch? In the project Kalaudioskop examines how the home audience can personalize their own experience by choosing camera angles and sound image, but perhaps also providing the opportunity for contact with other spectators and/or performers. Such an experience requires advanced technical solutions but also leads to new legal dilemmas. Therefore, the supplementary project is being implemented Concert X led by researchers Ana Nordberg and Aurelija Lukoševičienė on the Faculty of Law onto Lund University.
- Copyright law and related rights protect both musical works and performances and recordings of these works, explains Aurelija Lukoševičienė. When Kalaudioscope makes the works available to the public through live streaming and allows its users to customize the work according to personal wishes, many questions are raised. Should one allow further sharing of these altered works, can one train or have others train AI tools to assist in user customization of these works, and how can one protect against copyright infringement?
There are other challenges, too: Who owns the individualized concert? How do you get a license for such extensive use? How to balance the interests of the audience against the interests of the performers? How to protect the interests of technology developers? Other legal challenges concern how to handle the data.
- This is about the methods to be used for compliance and control of data protection, data sharing and data use, says Ana Nordberg. It also concerns what solutions can be used to take into account the experiences and expectations of relevant actors and how to offer a workable balance between the rights, obligations and legitimate interests of commercial operators, institutional actors, artists and audiences.
In creating a personalized digital concert experience, many stakeholders are involved — from artists and composers to technology providers, platform owners and audiences. To look at possible solutions, a role-playing game with cards was created to get the actors to discuss the combination of new technologies and law. The card game is scientifically developed and can be used to create a casual discussion with different players.
- When we wrote the application, we wanted to do something that allows participation in a way that allows communication to go in several directions and provide information in several layers, explains Ana Nordberg.
- There are different purposes for this type of serious game, continues Aurelija Lukoševičienė. The first purpose is learning for the participants, the second is to take someone else's perspective and third is to find solutions and create new information. Game methodology provides a low-risk environment in which to explore scenarios and take roles that you otherwise would not have taken.
The people in the groups were assigned, through the playing cards, roles as different actors who faced challenges. They were also given access to a number of cards with solutions.
So far, the results have not been compiled, but there are still conclusions to be drawn.
- It is very positive in itself that everyone was involved so much and that they were looking for solutions in terms of different aspects, says Ana Nordberg.
- We have definitely managed to gain knowledge about the ecosystem, the environment and various actors, continues Aurelija Lukoševičienė. We have also received at least one solution from each group and all the solutions are a synthesis of what we have imagined.
What is it like to work on a project that is a combination of culture, technology, law?
- It is creative to work with people from different backgrounds, different knowledge and different competencies, says Ana Nordberg. The team has worked really well although it can also be challenging to move the work forward.
- Kalaudioscope provides opportunities for many stakeholders to really understand each other and it has also given us feedback regarding the legal solutions,” concludes Aurelija Lukoševičienė.
The results will be compiled and included in the final report made during August and September.
Concert X is a one-year project funded by Vinnova. Project partners are the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Arts at Lund University and Future by Lund. The project deals with the legal aspect of Kalaudioscope projects and is part of the portfolioKalaudioscope — Personalized Digital Live Experiences.