User control

User-generated content or UGC refers to several kinds of media that are produced by end-users rather than from traditional mainstream broadcasters and publishers.

This terminology originated from the web with the advent of new technologies commonly known as WEB2.0.

WEB2.0 is simply the definition of new web-based applications such as networking sites, wikies and so on that have as a common ground the mission of building community-driven workspaces whereby the internet is simply a back-end and users play editorial and content management roles.

Unlike Web 1.0, where the internet was intended as a primary source of information, these new technologies promote and encourage the participation of all the communities in building a solid base of information that is reliable because they are ‘independent' and not connected to any commercial or political source.

Also, all the major IT companies are looking at the web not only as an information repository but also as a production environment; Google has already launched a series of toolsets to produce and share office documents entirely via the web. Likewise, many companies use technologies such as javascript and Ajax to produce web apps that will work with any user regardless of their software/hardare client. For instance, the only way for third party developers to produce applications that can run on the iPhone is writing programmes centered around Safari, Apple's web browser.

Most of the time, UGC websites have a mix of ‘administrated' content and user generated content. For instance, in Amazon.com, the sale and transactions section is completely managed by the mother company while the product reviews and feedbacks are independently managed by end users.

Looking at conventional media, the beginning of structured user generated content appearing into a mainstream broadcaster was in 2005 when the BBC received at least 5000 photographs from users witnessing the July bombings in the UK. Similarly, in 2006, the CNN introduced the iReport system whereby citizens could send clips and stills to the station to be showcased during news bulletins.

The technical quality of these contributions is usually not professional but the added value is the possibility to access a potentially enormous amount of information everywhere at anytime. It is interesting to note that the broadcast offer is running towards two completely different directions: on one side, technology is pushing the production of content realised at the highest technical quality possible, from HD TV to Dolby Surround; on the other, broadcasters are not scared of broadcasting a clip from YouTube during their prime time edition of newscast. Of course, there are many pros and cons to utilising user generated media in conventional broadcasting.

Engineered TV content such as news reports, talk shows, or even traditional newscasts are conceived and produced by professional reporters, producers and hosts. The intellectual property, and moral and social responsibilities are entirely upon the broadcasters or the company producing the show. However, what happens in the case of user generated content is still not clear. No one knows how to manage intellectual property in this case.

For instance, if an individual films a live bank robbery with his mobile phone camera and sends the clip to a broadcaster as an MMS, can he claim property rights if the clip is broadcast?

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