How did 2003 unfold in the world of online film, digital culture and technology? plugincinema gives it to you, hot off the press!

The War on Copyright

One of the most prominent news topics that plugincinema has been covering throughout 2003 was the machinations of the battle for copyright on the Internet; a battle with far-reaching consequences for all those who create content for digital media. As in 2002, this year much of this battle has again been centered around the music arena. 2003 saw with surreal events such as former Def Jam music label colleagues Chuck D (of Public Enemy) and LL Cool J both at a senate hearing, but arguing from opposite sides of the copyright debate. 2003 also saw the legal battles expand from the business-to-business front into the civilian area as the Recording Industry Association of America look legal action against individuals, in a battle that is far from over, indeed this may only be the beginning....

This topic also spilled into the film world: In January as Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise called copyrighted movie downloaders 'thieves'. Media player DivX had a busy 2003 trying to woo Hollywood and so avoid a damaging Napster-like legal struggle over copyright. A US Federal appeal upheld a court order that prohibited either publishing or linking to DVD-cracking code in a case that many believe that the decision has important implications for free-speech rights and copyright protection on the Internet.

Running through 2003

In January we saw media giant AOL Time Warner posts the biggest Loss in Corporate History. As the merger of old media and new media went a bit sour and the goliath company posted a $99 million loss.

Plans for the first every TV show to be distributed without a TV were announced in March, as plans surfaced for rapper Ice-T to front a hip-hip TV show with a sponsorship deal on the peer-to-peer network Kazza.

The war in Iraq seemed to invade almost every aspect of the media: In April, the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers has asked its members to consider contacting world leaders to express concerns for indy journalists covering the war. In May investigative reporter Greg Palast uncovered that Chief executive for the Recording Industry Association of America, Hilary Rosen, is part of the team drawing up the copyright laws for Iraq.

In August as the RIAA were busy issuing subpoenas to individual file traders, it was in turn sued by webcasters on antitrust grounds. September saw the first ever simultaneous online and cinema film release; the UK based production 'This is Not a Love Song'. Despite technical problems, the release went pretty much as planned. This event was timely, as Arbitron Inc published research that pointed to web-based audio/video finally becoming a mainstream form of entertainment.

In October cult filmmaker David Lynch declared that, TV is dead and that he believed the future is with streaming media. And finally in December 2003 the news that two of the biggest players in online media - RealNetworks and Microsoft are embroiled in a legal slugfest as Real hits Microsoft with $1 Billion antitrust lawsuit.

You heard it here first! Stay with us to hear it first in 2004!