Platform-Based Learning: Risks and Possibilities Regarding Interactive and User-Generated Content Platforms

The internet opens access to an enormous variety of content offered by professional players (such as agencies, publishers and producers), but also posted on user-generated content platforms (for example YouTube, vimeo or Soundcloud) by private individuals. The later may represent an interesting alternative as a source of innovative and cost-efficient content. Another (technical) option may be an embedding format, that is to rely on external sources/websites by simply integrating them via links into a service’s own offer.

What is the European legal framework for such activities? Who is responsible for possible infringements that are taking place within such external sources? How can legal risks be controlled?

A short introduction will be followed by a discussion about the following topics:

- Legal compliance: How to avoid illegal content, such as copyright infringement, defamation, hate speech on interactive platforms? What procedures have to be in place to deal with illegal content?

- May a (legal) obligation to register/verify participants that post content on platforms offer a sustainable solution?

- How does such an approach comply with data protection and/or free speech? Under what circumstances is a platform provider obliged to pass information on its users to authorities and rights owners?

- Is our current legal system prepared to cope with highly interactive business models?

- Value gap: How to achieve a fair economic balance between rights owners and platform services?

- Quality standard: How to make sure that a high quality standard is maintained in an interactive environment?

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