The Globalisation of Informality

OpenBusienss UK have just returned from our annual International OpenBusiness Global Teams Conference.

The two days conference combined an informal meetup where the OpenBusiness Team met with each other to catch up. Partners from Argentenia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Mexico presented their finding for their year’s research. The second day was our “public day” and was attended by organisations with shared interests and the Brazilian Press who covered the conference extensively.

The focus of all the Latin American Teams was on open music models, such as Tecnobregra, which use informal networks to distribute their work. Discussion was based around underground movements being denied access to traditional copyright, which has made it extremely difficult for them to enter the traditional media market.

But do these musicians want to be formalised. Like so many entrepreneurs that we have studied over the past year- the answer to this is two sided. Of course musicians want to earn money or fame from their work however they are not looking for access to the current model with the full restrictions

The Internet has allowed for democratisation but at same time it belongs to a minority. Like the internet, he issue of Copyright is specialised. Street vendors, Favela parties and community radio are all used by underground musicians in the same way that richer communities rely so heavily on the net.

More information will emerge in the form of an OpenBusiness Music guide- but if you read Portugese or Spanish have a browse through the following links:

O futuro é tecnobrega
09/04/2007 – O Globo – RJ (Info etc) – pág. 1 e 4
Citação Pág: 2 ¶ 1

A indústria das ruas
11/04/2007 – Revista Carta Capital – SP (Plural) – pág. 4/58-59
Citação Pág: 2 ¶ 4

O outro lado do sucesso
27/03/2007 – Folha de S. Paulo – SP (Ilustrada) – pág. Capa / E 3
Citação Pág: 2 ¶ 3

Pirataria em discussão
09/04/2007 – O Globo – RJ (Info etc – Update) – pág. 2
Citação Pág: 1 ¶ 1
O sucesso � margem da mídia
31/03/2007 – O Estado de S. Paulo – SP (Caderno 2) – pág. D2
Citação Pág: 1 ¶ 1

Open Business em Workshop
26/03/2007 – O Globo – RJ (Info etc – Update) – pág. 2
Citação Pág: 1 ¶ 1

Thanks so much to our wonderful hosts in Brazil- of course we are really looking forward to our next meeting.