The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA) and the Cloud Computing Association (CCA) have entered into a strategic alliance to better serve expanding industry needs driven by the explosive growth of cloud computing in the software sector.

Along with CCA Executive Director Don Buford, we are very pleased to announce plans this week for our first jointly sponsored event, CLOUD COMPUTING WEST 2012 (CCW: 2012), November 8th-9th in Santa Monica, CA.

CCW: 2012 will feature three co-located conferences focusing on the impact of cloud-based solutions in the industry’s fastest-moving and most strategically important areas.

The CCA is an independent membership organization, founded in 2012, dedicated to building a community of end-users and service providers of cloud-based solutions and products through individual professional memberships and industry conferences. The CCA has quickly amassed a contact list of three-hundred thousand industry participants.

As DCINFO readers know, the DCIA is an international trade organization, established in 2003, with more than one-hundred industry-leading member companies, including software developers, broadband network operators, and content providers. The DCIA conducts working groups and oversees political initiatives, as well as publishing this weekly online newsletter.

As part of the strategic alliance, DCIA member company employees will be offered the opportunity to become CCA professional members on special terms. And CCA individual members will be offered opportunities to participate in DCIA activities on special terms, as well as receive subscriptions to DCINFO.

The DCIA & CCA together invite companies and individuals to take active roles as exhibitors and speakers in CCW: 2012, a first-of-its kind cloud-computing summit that will bring together three conferences in a single venue. Interested parties are encouraged to call 410-476-7965 or e-mail info@dcia.info for details.

CCW: 2012 will encompass the latest advances and key pitfalls associated with cloud computing applied to entertainment distribution, telecommunications infrastructure, and venture financing, which the DCIA & CCA have identified as the three most critical areas for industry development.

The opening plenary session, “Cloud Computing Effects on Media, Telecom, and Investing” will feature a keynote address answering the questions: How are cloud-based solutions in the entertainment sector evolving? How do these and related developments impact broadband network infrastructure? How should investments in this space be evaluated?

This will be followed by a panel discussion answering questions such as: Is “the cloud” more important to content creation or storage and delivery? What role(s) do Internet service providers (ISPs) play in this arena? What are risk profiles and ROI projections for entities in this space?

From there, each of the three conferences will zero in on issues of importance to its area of focus.

The entertainment conference will start with latest trends in cloud solutions for high-value content production and distribution, then analyze pitfalls to avoid in adopting cloud solutions for content development/delivery, and finally examine ten tactical areas associated with the implementation of cloud-based solutions for media companies.

The telecom conference will start with current impacts of cloud migration on broadband network operations and businesses, then analyze drawbacks to cloud deployments from broadband network operators’ perspectives, and finally examine ten tactical areas associated with external cloud services and those that ISPs themselves offer.

The investment conference will start with new updates on venture capital and mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) activity in the cloud computing space, then analyze liabilities that need to concern investors regarding cloud-based businesses, and finally examine ten tactical areas associated with criteria used for investing in cloud-based ventures and exit strategies.

The DCIA most recently presented the CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE held within the 2012 NAB Show, focusing on cloud-based solutions for broadcasting. On the same date at a different location, the CCA presented two conferences, hCLOUD and PublicCLOUD, focusing on cloud-based solutions for healthcare and government.

“We’ve been astonished by the responsiveness of software sector representatives to the introduction of CCA and the value they’ve derived from our initial efforts to bring buyers and sellers of cloud-based solutions together. We look forward to leveraging the depth of experience of the DCIA in this space as we team with them to increase the scope and effectiveness of our combined service offerings,” said CCA Executive Director Don Buford.

This very timely partnership will enable us to better serve our rapidly expanding industry by integrating a dual focus on individual participant as well as company level advancement. People as well as enterprises have major stakes in the ongoing cloud-computing revolution, and we are thrilled to be working with the CCA to drive continued success on both fronts. Share wisely, and take care.

Continuing our focus this week on issues surrounding CISPA - more heinous than SOPA, and it just passed the US House of Representatives, DCINFO readers now need to alert US Senators of their concerns.

The Senate’s version of the cybersecurity bill is straying even more off the mark of what should be covered in such a measure than the House version: protecting critical American infrastructure against attacks in the digital realm.

This is not the bill to attempt to address a host of other Internet-related items that various Senators are seeking to include based on differing political considerations.

That will only make matters worse, and even the special interests pushing for some of the expanded provisions stand to be hurt by unintended consequences of such amendments.

Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) remark this week, that “unelected Digital Homeland Security bureaucrats could divert resources from actual cybersecurity to compliance with government mandates,” should raise a major red flag to all observers of this process.

Since this bill’s purported raison d’etre is to protect security, shouldn’t its “mandatory” provisions be aimed at accomplishing precisely that?

Instead, the way the discussion is heading now, the bill that emerges will be more likely to do nothing to protect vital American interests from cyberattacks, and actually harm privacy - both individual and institutional - as well as add operating expenses to US companies.

And as Preventing Counterfeits (excerpted below) suggests, private sector solutions will leave public sector attempts to legislate remedies here far behind.

Meanwhile, in another example of how challenging this space has become to lawmakers, The Password Protection Act (PPA) was introduced by Democrats this week in both the House and Senate, illustrating the converse problem to CISPA’s growing loss of focus, and that’s the problem of “techno-legislative-micro-management.”

PPA’s stated intent, echoing a Maryland law, is to prevent employers from demanding access to Facebook passwords of employees and job applicants.

Congressmen Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced in the House an identical version of the measure introduced in the Senate by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who supported a petition on this subject, which failed to achieve its goal of 60,000 signatures, suggesting that citizens may not want this “help.”

PPA includes provisions intended to prohibit employers from requiring private social network and e-mail account access as a condition of employment and from discriminating against individuals who refuse to provide it. Exceptions include employees with access to national security information and, for inexplicable reasons, students.

Senator Blumenthal’s claim that, “This legislation, which I am proud to introduce, ensures that employees and job seekers are free from these invasive and intrusive practices,” is another indication that legislators are long on seeking politically advantageous credit for their efforts, but in the Internet law arena are short on delivering substantive value.

Moreover, Blumenthal’s assertions that employers requiring such information are perpetrating an “unreasonable and intolerable invasion of privacy” and that “no American should have to provide their confidential personal passwords as a condition of employment,” strike us as demagogic hyperbole.

The bill itself represents an unwarranted “intrusion” by the federal government into the internal workings of private sector organizations. There are numerous instances where the mission or culture of a particular institution wholly justifies heightened transparency and a deepened level of integrity in employer-employee relations, and this should not be prohibited by law.

Circumstances of these relationships vary tremendously; and our point is that, in a free society, neither employers nor employees should have this specific aspect of their association dictated by the federal government.

We tend to agree with Senator Patrick Toomey (R-PA), who said at a related Senate Commerce hearing on privacy protections this week, “It’s premature to begin discussing specific legislative fixes when we don’t fully know whether a problem exists.”

Senator Toomey was speaking against the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) bid to expand its powers to interfere with evolving privacy practices of Internet-based companies like Facebook and Google, absent regulatory authorization.

DCINFO readers will recall that the White House last Fall put forward what it called a Privacy Bill of Rights to provide basic online protection guidelines.

Those rights were presented as voluntary codes of conduct, and the DCIA applauded them. Industry in response launched a “Do Not Track” initiative along the lines of the “Do Not Call” list, which even FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz acknowledged is working.

The eight basic principles included Individual Control, Transparency, Respect for Context (data used consistent with context in which consumers provided it), Security, Access and Accuracy, Focused Collection (“reasonable limits”) and Accountability (appropriate safeguards for data collection). 

These are sufficiently broad not to be overly prescriptive, and companies can readily determine those that apply to them and those that don’t. A firm which voluntarily complies but then violates its commitment will be subject to FTC sanction for false and deceptive practices.

The DCIA believes that self-regulation will go a long way here because, among other reasons, social media users are more vocal with their complaints.

“The right to express one’s views, practice one’s faith, peacefully assemble with others to pursue political or social change - these are all rights to which all human beings are entitled, whether they choose to exercise them in a city square or an Internet chat room,” the US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, said at the end of 2011 at an Internet conference in the Netherlands.

“And just as we have worked together since the last century to secure these rights in the material world, we must work together in this century to secure them in cyberspace.” Share wisely, and take care.

The DCIA commends the US Senate Commerce Committee for conducting a hearing Tuesday April 24th on The Emergence of Online Video: Is It the Future?

The session explored the migration of viewing from traditional television to Internet and broadband-enabled video content, and examined the role that disruptive technologies play in facilitating this transition, and the business and legal models that will foster the growth of this sector.

The panel of witnesses was comprised of Barry Diller, Chairman, IAC; Paul Misener, VP, Amazon; Blair Westlake, VP, Microsoft; and Susan Whiting, Vice Chairman, Nielsen.

Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) opened with a pair of questions: 1) How will the disruptive technology that online viewing provides lead to better content and more consumer choice? And 2) How do we harness this change for the power of consumers so we can get higher quality programming at lower rates?

He was generally receptive to the notion of over-the-top (OTT) services, like those represented by Amazon and Microsoft, for potentially providing downward pricing pressure on consumer cable bills, which he criticized for outstripping inflation. He also chastised current cable and satellite multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) for making him pay for 500 channels, while he only views 10.

At one point, Diller responded by saying that major basic cable programmers, such as ESPN, would be “insane to go a la carte” abandoning the traditional model of 100% of cable subs having to pay for these channels whether or not they want to receive them.

The DCIA’s answers to Rockefeller’s first two questions are: 1) Cloud-based Internet protocol television (IPTV) offers virtually unlimited channel capacity as a result of the way the technology distributes video programming - this is drastically different from channel-bound cable and satellite systems. And 2) We harness this change first by replicating on the new platform all that consumers currently receive (albeit with incremental quality improvements), so that conversion does not force them to miss out, and second by introducing unique new services, many of them a la carte.

Cloud-based IPTV is more economical than cable or satellite and therefore able simultaneously to offer programmers greater revenue - from both traditional license fees and new interactive services - and also to offer consumers more attractive pricing.

Diller also said that without network neutrality protections, traditional broadcasters and cable operators would penalize competitors who try to deliver content those legacy distributors do not own - even as a complementary offering. “We have to protect network neutrality,” agreed Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

If the hearing had a major deficiency, it was that it did not scrutinize how broadband network operators control access to content - through caps, proprietary offerings, and pricing/packaging programs that should begin to raise questions. The problems of Internet access providers owning video content arguably should be the greatest concern to Congress as the technological transformation to cloud distribution proceeds.

We agree with the concerns voiced by a coalition of public interest groups in their letter this week to Congress.

Diller noted that first-rate broadband service was also crucial, and there seemed to be a consensus among panelists that universal broadband access was going to be very important to the success of online video businesses - and a future world not divided between video “haves” and “have-nots.”

In an acknowledgment of demand for “TV Everywhere” type services, Misener said that, “Although we recognize that our customers want to watch a variety of high-quality video content at affordable prices from the comfort of their homes, we also realize that they are on the move, and thus they want access to digital video not just anytime, but also anywhere.”

Meanwhile, Westlake touted Microsoft’s delivery of television programming to Xboxes, its work in video-on-demand (VoD), and its development of voice recognition software that integrates search with video delivery.

With cloud-based IPTV, in the fullness of time, it should be possible to access any previously recorded video content on demand, delivered to any device. And also to access any live streaming feed.

Susan Whiting testified that viewers find value in access to video content online from any device whenever they want to access it.

Diller, a former top TV and movie studio executive, said copyright law was working and condemned the “ridiculous overreach” of the Stop Online Protection Act (SOPA), recently abandoned legislation that was strongly opposed by the DCIA. In contrast, we would support coverage of IPTV services by the Communications Act of 1996, which would not require a lengthy rewrite during an election year.

The Next Generation Television Marketplace Act, proposed in December, is another possibility. This bill would further deregulate the broadcast industry to eliminate coverage requirements and allow broadcasters to negotiate retransmission fees more like cable programmers such as AMC or CNN do for their license fees. Key questions would be how broadcasters’ access to public airwaves is addressed and what happens to their requirement to present public-interest programming.

Diller defended his Aereo TV service, which offers subscribers access to a remote digital broadcast antenna and cloud DVR capabilities for $12/month, but which broadcasters are suing for failure to compensate them for retransmission of their signals in violation of copyright law.

With seeming inconsistency, he told Senators that a level playing field was critical and that the same rules and regulations that apply to traditional MVPDs should be applied to online video services. We agree: Aereo needs to pay for the programming it redistributes, as do related services ivi.TV and NimbleTV.

In the most heated part of the hearing, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) questioned the legitimacy of Aereo for its interception of station signals and then retransmission of them - charging viewers while not paying content tights holders. The Senator got it right.

Indeed, it was refreshing to see how far the Committee has progressed in its recognition of cloud-based IPTV as the coming distribution platform for television and interactive video.

There are many, many more questions to address to ensure that innovation progresses at an optimal pace, and that the interests of all stakeholders are reflected in the process. Share wisely, and take care.

The question I’ve been asked most this week is: Why are we opposed to the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)?

Public interest groups including Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have been vocal in decrying its potential devastation of consumer privacy online by virtually eliminating the First and Fourth Amendments.

That would be reason enough for us to want to see this measure abandoned by the US Senate, but we also have additional concerns based on our organizational mission.

The DCIA is focused on commercial advancement of distributed computing technologies - such as cloud computing - and as InfoWorld, among others, reported this week, “CISPA poses a threat to the privacy of entire organizations, from non-profits and small businesses on up to enterprises - and even to the very future of cloud computing.”

While the ill-conceived measure purports to address an issue around which there’s general consensus - cybersecurity - it fails to accomplish that, while it would instigate a dangerous regime with a high potential for disastrous consequences.

As Congressman Markey (D-MA) opined this week, it should be called the cyber “insecurity” bill because it allows sensitive information to be shared with the federal government with impunity, even if it is not related to cybersecurity, and permits the government to use that data to spy on its citizens. Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) agreed with Markey.

What CISPA does not do is require entities to disclose what they are doing to protect cybersecurity - or even to reveal when they have been attacked. What it does is condone the sharing of proprietary and confidential material in the total absence of judicial oversight.

Under the House-approved measure, the federal government, public agencies, utilities, and private organizations designated as “certified entities” would be able freely to circulate customer data without due process and without any fear of reprisal if supposed “concerns” regarding the data turned out to be totally unfounded.

Under the vague and overly-broad language of the bill, “cybersecurity providers,” who would be encouraged to voluntarily divulge data, include broadband network operators, cloud services providers, and, ironically, software companies and services firms that offer cybersecurity benefits to their customers.

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) called CISPA “a massive government overreach, giving secret government agencies information without accountability.”

Hosting companies and data centers that support even the most rudimentary applications and include as part of their service the securing of their customers’ data, could simply choose to release information, including e-mails, financial data, proprietary business practices, and other sensitive private material.

The Internet service providers (ISPs), which transmit that data, could also elect to release it.

And the web-based companies or other institutions, which are engaged with their customers in the business transactions that rely upon this information, could similarly do so.

CISPA does not specify individual citizens as its targets, but rather is broad enough in its scope to include institutions of all kinds, from small-and-medium size businesses (SMBs) to large enterprises.

The criteria for determining to proceed with data disclosure are entirely subjective. Differing political views alone could justify providing access to information in the name of “protecting security.” A customer relationship dispute could trigger releasing data. - as long as it could be posed as some sort of “security” question. Almost any related rationale could be made into an excuse.

And if the outcome was that the disclosed data in the end posed no cybersecurity threat, there would be absolutely no repercussions to the disclosing party. Zero consequences for performing an act that would be ruinous to the customer whose confidentiality would have been violated without due process.

In addition to this unacceptable elimination of a fundamental level of security expected in customer vendor relationships, too much data is now being generated by individuals and institutions for this kind of approach even to be practical in achieving its stated goal if it were enacted.

According to the 2011 IDC Digital Universe Study, 1.8 trillion gigabytes of data were created last year; and Cisco projects that, by 2015, 1 million minutes of video will be transmitted over the Internet every second and there will be twice as many networked devices as there are people in the world.

Federal authorities can’t analyze this amount of traffic, and increasing the amount of data that they are expected to inspect and evaluate, as CISPA proposes to do, will just make matters worse.

What government reasonably can and should do is to focus much more narrowly on critical infrastructure subsets of this data, such as utility grids, internal government networks, and the financial system.

Securing those would fulfill its obligations to protect the citizenry from cyberthreats for which it should take direct responsibility. And facilitating new, distributed private sector response mechanisms, which would be much nimbler and more effective than CISPA’s centralized government program, would have far better results.

Our concern as a trade association seeking to foster the adoption of cloud computing and to encourage the innovative advancement of cloud-based services is this: CISPA, as drafted, could be the single greatest deterrent in the history of technologically-focused regulation to the usage of Internet-based solutions.

CISPA would stifle innovation in our sector generally, and impede cloud computing in particular.

If your organization is concerned in any way with the privacy of its data, why should it subject itself to storing proprietary information in a data center that is rendered totally insecure by government fiat?

And again the irony is profound here - especially if the hosting company or cloud services provider offers data protection - at any moment and without warning that vendor or other entity in the data flow chain could decide to share your sensitive data with the federal government and other parties.

This is why we oppose CISPA and urge DCINFO readers respectfully to ask that your Senators reject this measure and also request that President Obama veto it should that become necessary. Demand Progress supporters have sent more than 200,000 e-mails and 15,000 phone-calls to Congress to stop CISPA.

A more reasonable approach would be to adopt the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, a Senate alternative to CISPA, which aims more narrowly to “enhance the security and resiliency of the nation’s cyber and communications infrastructure.” This not only avoids the privacy-threatening aspects of CISPA, but also has a greater likelihood of being successfully implemented thanks to its more realistic scope. The bill is far from perfect, but with careful redrafting could be much more effective - and less harmful - than CISPA.

The most effective cybersecurity strategy will be one that is agile and decentralized, focused on sharing information about threats and attacks, and, just as important, on proven ways to defend against them - approaches that are totally foreign to CISPA. Share wisely, and take care.

Congratulations to NAB President & CEO Gordon Smith and the entire management team upon their completion of a highly successful 2012 NAB Show.

While solutions have changed to keep pace with consumer habits and technologies, aspirations to produce and deliver memorable content have remained constant, and the NAB has led its ever-changing industry throughout a period now spanning eight decades.

We are especially grateful to John Marino, VP, Technology, for the leadership and support of his group that literally made our involvement possible.

And most of all, thanks to everyone who participated in the DCIA’s inaugural CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE within NAB.

This very timely conference demonstrated how software developers are addressing two major concerns with respect to cloud-based solutions for audio/video (A/V) delivery - reliability and security.

We could not have done it without our sponsors, Aspera, Avid, Chyron, Front Porch Digital, and Rackspace. Our standing room only (SRO) audience was keenly interested in the subject matter. And our speakers did a terrific job. All of which made for a very stimulating and valuable event.

In addition, the DCIA’s presence in the CLOUD COMPUTING PAVILION, a first-ever special section of the NAB Exhibit Floor, brought our message of advocacy for enlightened adoption of cloud-based solutions to numerous additional delegates throughout the week.

The presentations of all keynote speakers are now online here and links to audio tracks of each session are highlighted below. The Conference Brochure is posted here. Photos are on Picasa here and on Facebook here - please “Like” us on Facebook.

After our brief welcome on behalf of the DCIA, which is archived here, Bill Kallman, CEO,Scayl, presented KEYNOTE 1 - The Latest Trends in Cloud Computing Solutions for the A/V Ecosystem. Bill’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 1 - Advanced Capabilities, New Features, Cost Advantages of Cloud Computing Solutions featured Mike Alexenko, Senior Director of Market Development, Cloud & Mobility, G-Technology; Scott Campbell, Principal, Media, Entertainment, and Telecoms, SAP; David Frerichs, Strategic Consultant, Pioneer Corporation; David Hassoun, Founder, RealEyes Media; Michelle Munson, CEO, President, and Co-founder, Aspera; Samir Mittal, CTO, Rimage; and Robert Stevenson, EVP, Interactive Entertainment, Gaikai. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

Jim Burger, Member, Dow Lohnes presented KEYNOTE 2 - The Key Pitfalls Associated with Cloud Computing in High-Value Content Implementations. Jim’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 2 - Privacy Issues, Reliability Questions, Security Concerns in the Cloud Computing Space featured Dave Asprey, VP, Cloud Security, Trend Micro; Graham Oakes, Chairman, Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA); Rajan Samtani, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Peer Media Technologies; Dan Schnapp, Partner & Chairman of New Media, Entertainment & Technology, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Yangbin Wang, CEO, Vobile; Vic Winkler, Author, “Securing the Cloud”; Marvin Wheeler, Chairman, Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA); And Tom Mulally, Consultant, Numagic Consulting. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

Mark Davis, CEO, Scenios presented KEYNOTE 3 - Various Ways that Cloud Computing Is Being Applied to the Content Creation Process - from Pre- to Post-Production. Mark’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 3 - Audio/Video Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Clouds featured Tony Cahill, Chief Engineer, Constellation Solutions Group; Guillermo Chialvo, Gerente de Tecnologia, Radio Mitre; Gerald Hensley, VP, Worldwide Entertainment Sales, Rovi Corporation; Ajay Malhotra, EVP, North America, Prime Focus Technologies; Todd Martin, SVP, Strategic Solutions Group, Chyron; Kirk Punches, VP, Business Development, Sorenson Media; and Jostein Svendsen, CEO, WeVideo. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

Jonathan King, SVP, Joyent, presented KEYNOTE 4 - Alternative Approaches for Implementing Cloud Storage of Content Catalogs and Libraries and Leveraging Cloud-Based Distribution. Jonathan’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 4 - Cloud Media Storage & Delivery was moderated by Brian Campanotti, CTO, Front Porch Digital and featured Bang Chang, VP, Server and Storage, SeaChange International; Stephen Condon, VP, Global Marketing Communications, Limelight Networks; Thomas Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates; Gianluca Ferremi, VP Sales & Marketing, Motive Television; Corey Halverson, Product Director, Media Business Solutions, Akamai; Kshitij Kumar, SVP, Mobile Video, Concurrent; Kyle Okamoto, Sr. Mgr. Product and Portfolio Mgt., Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mark Taylor, VP, Media and IP Services, Level 3. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

Scott Brown, GM & SVP Strategic Partnerships, Octoshape, presented KEYNOTE 5 - New Levels of Media Performance Data Enabled by Cloud Computing — and Impact on Other Sectors . Scott’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 5 - Cloud Measurement, Analytics, Implications featured Sean Barger, CEO, Equilibrium / EQ Network; Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst & Consultant, TVStrategies; Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Co.; Monica Ricci, Dir. of Product Marketing, CSG International; John Schiela, President, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI); Nick Strauss, Director of Sales, Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mike West, CTO, GenosTV. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

Jean-Luc Chatelain, EVP, Strategy & Technology, DataDirect Networks, presented KEYNOTE 6 - Navigating the Current Cloud Environment and Planning for What’s Next. Jean-Luc’s presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

PANEL 6 - Years Ahead for Cloud Computing featured Saul Berman, Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services; Ian Donahue, President, Great American Television; Chris Haddad, VP, Technology Evangelism, WSO2; Wayne Josel, Counsel, Media & Entertainment, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Steve Mannel, Senior Director, Media & Communications, Salesforce.com; James Mitchell, CEO & Founder, Strategic Blue; David Sterling, Partner, i3m3 Solutions; and Chuck Stormon, CEO, Attend. The audio track of their panel can be found here.

James Hughes, VP & Cloud Storage Architect, Huawei, presented KEYNOTE 7 - Disruptive Effects of Cloud Computing Will Continue. James’ presentation can be found online here and its audio track is archived here.

Finally, we commend Adam Marcus, DCIA Technology Advisor, for doing a terrific job as conference emcee along with his many other duties.

In our closing comments, archived here, we invited all participants—sponsors, attendees, and speakers alike—to join us in November for CLOUD COMPUTING WEST 2012, a first-ever event featuring three co-located conferences.

CCW:2012 will zero in on the latest advances in applying cloud-based solutions to all aspects of high-value entertainment content production, storage, and delivery; the impact of cloud services on broadband network management and economics; and evaluating and investing in cloud computing services providers. Share wisely, and take care.

We hope to see you at the DCIA’s inaugural CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE within the 2012 NAB Show on Monday April 16th in N232 of the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall.

Don’t miss this full-day conference that will demonstrate how software developers are addressing two major concerns with respect to cloud-based solutions for video delivery - reliability and security.

Experts will provide a senior management overview of how cloud-based solutions positively impact each stage of the content distribution chain. From collaboration and post-production to storage, delivery, and analytics, decision makers responsible for accomplishing their content-related missions will find this a must-attend event.

For your convenience, here is the full agenda.

10:30 KEYNOTE 1 - The Latest Trends in Cloud Computing Solutions for the Audio/Video (A/V) Ecosystem
How are innovative cloud-based technology developers impacting A/V content creation and distribution with a host of new strategies, products, and services?

• Bill Kallman, CEO,Scayl

10:50 PANEL 1 - Advanced Capabilities, New Features, Cost Advantages of Cloud Computing Solutions
What are the very latest ways that cloud computing is being applied throughout the creation and distribution chain for television and radio programming, motion pictures, corporate A/V production, and user-generated content (UGC)?

• Mike Alexenko, Sr. Dir. Mkt. Dev., Cloud & Mobility, G-Technology
• Scott Campbell, Principal, Media, Entertainment, and Telecoms, SAP
• David Frerichs, Strategic Consultant, Pioneer Corporation
• David Hassoun, Founder, RealEyes Media
• Samir Mittal, CTO, Rimage
• Michelle Munson, CEO, President, and Co-founder, Aspera
• Robert Stevenson, EVP, Interactive Entertainment, Gaikai

11:40 KEYNOTE 2 - The Key Pitfalls Associated with Cloud Computing in High-Value Content Implementations
How are safety and predictability considerations as well as related liability factors affecting cloud adoption for A/V by content creators, rights-holders, and distributors?

• Jim Burger, Member, Dow Lohnes

12:00 PANEL 2 - Privacy Issues, Reliability Questions, Security Concerns in the Cloud Computing Space
What are the different but inter-related hurdles to overcome for consumers, content companies, software providers, broadband network operators, and related cloud services vendors in migrating to the cloud, and what steps is the distributed computing industry taking to address these problems?

• Dave Asprey, VP, Cloud Security, Trend Micro
• Tom Mulally, Consultant, Numagic Consulting
• Graham Oakes, Chairman, Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA)
• Rajan Samtani, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Peer Media Technologies
• Dan Schnapp, Prtnr. & Ch. of New Media, Ent. & Tech., Hughes, Hubbard & Reed
• Yangbin Wang, CEO, Vobile
• Marvin Wheeler, Chairman, Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA)
• Vic Winkler, Author, “Securing the Cloud”

12:50 KEYNOTE 3 - Various Ways that Cloud Computing Is Being Applied to the Content Creation Process - from Pre- to Post-Production
How are Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and even Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions strategically being brought to bear to improve key aspects of file-based workflow for A/V content?

• Mark Davis, CEO, Scenios

1:10 PANEL 3 - Audio/Video Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Clouds
What are leading examples and key case studies of ways that cloud-computing solutions are accelerating processes, improving quality, and/or reducing costs of such functions as collaboration, editing, animation, applying metadata, formatting, and transcoding?

• Tony Cahill, Chief Engineer, CET Universe
• Guillermo Chialvo, Gerente de Tecnologia, Radio Mitre
• Gerald Hensley, VP, Worldwide Entertainment Sales, Rovi Corporation
• Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, Gobbler
• Ajay Malhotra, EVP, North America, Prime Focus Technologies
• Todd Martin, SVP, Strategic Solutions Group. Chyron
• Kirk Punches, VP, Business Development, Sorenson Media
• Jostein Svendsen, CEO, WeVideo

2:00 KEYNOTE 4 - Alternative Approaches for Implementing Cloud Storage of Content Catalogs and Libraries and Leveraging Cloud-Based Distribution
How is this most publicized area in the implementation of cloud computing for A/V - storage and delivery - progressing? What are the technology policy/rights considerations and economics behind such concepts as “cloud media lockers” and the newest peer-assisted hybrid solutions in “quantum computing?”

• Jonathan King, SVP, Joyent

2:20 PANEL 4 - Cloud Media Storage & Delivery
What are leading examples and key case studies of ways that cloud-computing solutions are accelerating processes, improving quality, and/or reducing costs of such functions as managing fungible inventories of high-value A/V content, including at the edge of the Internet, and delivering it to listeners and viewers?

• Bang Chang, VP, Server and Storage, SeaChange International
• Stephen Condon, VP, Global Marketing Communications, Limelight Networks
• Thomas Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates
• Gianluca Ferremi, VP Sales & Marketing, Motive Television
• Corey Halverson, Product Director, Media Business Solutions, Akamai
• Kshitij Kumar, SVP, Mobile Video, Concurrent
• Kyle Okamoto, Sr. Mgr., Product & Portfolio Mgt., Verizon Digital Media Services
• Mark Taylor, VP, Media and IP Services, Level 3
• Moderator: Brian Campanotti, CTO, Front Porch Digital

3:10 KEYNOTE 5 - New Levels of Media Performance Data Enabled by Cloud Computing — and Impact on Other Sectors
How will marketers, sponsors, and advertisers respond to the ability to access “dashboards” that provide anonymized listener and viewer behavior in an unprecedented level of detail in real-time? How will this affect programming, scheduling, and sell-through services, as well as related industries?

• Scott Brown, GM & SVP Strategic Partnerships, Octoshape

3:30 PANEL 5 - Cloud Measurement, Analytics, Implications
What are leading examples and key case studies of ways that cloud-computing solutions are accelerating processes, improving quality, and/or reducing costs of such functions as aggregating demographic and psychographic data, audience flow trends, and additional behavior information? What are the implications of cloud computing deployments in the A/V ecosystem on the consumer electronics (CE) and telecommunications industries?

• Sean Barger, CEO, Equilibrium/EQNetwork
• Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst & Consultant, TVStrategies
• Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Co.
• Monica Ricci, Dir. of Product Marketing, CSG International
• John Schiela, President, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI)
• Nick Strauss, Director of Sales, Verizon Digital Media Services
• Mike West, CTO, GenosTV

4:20 KEYNOTE 6 - Navigating the Current Cloud Environment and Planning for What’s Next
What are the proven opportunities for broadcasters and A/V distributors to adapt cloud computing technology now and what changes and new service offerings are imminent?

• Jean-Luc Chatelain, EVP, Strategy & Technology, DataDirect Networks

4:40 PANEL 6 - Years Ahead for Cloud Computing
What do the most credible forecasts and projections indicate about the ways that cloud-computing solutions will continue to impact the A/V ecosystem over the long term, and what will this mean for the underlying businesses that are based on content production and distribution?

• Saul Berman, Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services
• Ian Donahue, President, American Standard Television
• Chris Haddad, VP, Technology Evangelism, WSO2
• Wayne Josel, Counsel, Media & Entertainment, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed
• Steve Mannel, Sr. Dir., Media & Comm., Salesforce.com
• James Mitchell, CEO & Founder, Strategic Blue
• David Sterling, Partner, i3m3 Solutions
• Chuck Stormon, CEO, Attend

5:30 KEYNOTE 7 - Disruptive Effects of Cloud Computing Will Continue
How will cloud computing technology continue to disrupt the A/V ecosystem, and where and when will we see the most profound changes to current business models and operations?

• James Hughes, VP & Cloud Storage Architect, Huawei

6:00 CLOSING

Sponsoring companies include Aspera, Avid, Chyron, Front Porch Digital, and Rackspace. For more information or to register, please click here. In addition, the DCIA will exhibit in N3222M at the CLOUD COMPUTING PAVILION, a first-ever special section of the NAB Exhibit Floor totally dedicated to cloud computing. Share wisely, and take care.

The DCIA proudly announces the final agenda, principal sponsors, and line-up of industry-leading speakers for our inaugural CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE at the 2012 NAB Show.

This second annual DCIA “Conference within NAB” is scheduled for Monday April 16th in N232 of the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition, the DCIA will exhibit in N3222M at the CLOUD COMPUTING PAVILION, a first-ever special section of the NAB Exhibit Floor totally dedicated to cloud computing.

The NAB Show has evolved over the last eight decades to continually lead its ever-changing industry.

While solutions have changed to keep pace with consumer habits and technologies, aspirations to produce and deliver memorable content have remained constant.

The NAB Show will be attended by 90,000+ media and entertainment professionals from over 150 countries. More than $18.8 billion in purchasing power will be represented onsite. 1,500+ companies spread over 745,000 net square feet will exhibit. There will be more than 500 skill-building sessions; and 1,300+ members of the press will cover the event.

For more information or to register, please click here.

This very timely conference will demonstrate how software developers are addressing two major concerns with respect to cloud-based solutions for audio/video (A/V) delivery - reliability and security.

Experts will provide insights into how cloud computing impacts each stage of the content distribution chain, from collaboration to storage and delivery all the way through analytics.

Sponsoring companies include Aspera, Avid, Chyron, Front Porch Digital, and Rackspace.

The agenda for the conference, which begins at 10:30 AM and continues until 6:00 PM PT, will open with “Latest Trends in Cloud Computing Solutions for the A/V Ecosystem” and then move to “Key Pitfalls Associated with Cloud Computing in High-Value Content Implementations.”

The conference will then explore “Various Ways that Cloud Computing Is Being Applied to the Content Creation Process - from Pre- to Post-Production,” followed by “Alternative Approaches for Implementing Cloud Storage of Content Catalogs and Libraries and Leveraging Cloud-Based Distribution,” and then, “New Levels of Media Performance Data Enabled by Cloud Computing - and Impact on Other Sectors.”

The agenda will close out with “Navigating the Current Cloud Environment and Planning for What’s Next,” and finally, “Disruptive Effects of Cloud Computing Will Continue.”

Keynote speakers for each of the above areas, respectively, include Bill Kallman, CEO, Scayl; Jim Burger, Member, Dow Lohnes; Mark Davis, CEO, Scenios; Jonathan King, SVP, Joyent; Scott Brown, GM & SVP Strategic Partnerships, Octoshape; Jean-Luc Chatelain, EVP, Strategy & Technology, DataDirect Networks; and James Hughes, VP and Cloud Storage Architect, Huawei.

The first panel will explore “Advanced Capabilities, New Features, Cost Advantages of Cloud Computing Solutions” with Mike Alexenko, Senior Director of Market Development, Cloud & Mobility, G-Technology; Scott Campbell, Principal, Media, Entertainment, and Telecoms, SAP; David Frerichs, Strategic Consultant, Pioneer Corporation; David Hassoun, Founder, RealEyes Media; AJ McGowan, CTO, Unicorn Media; Samir Mittal, CTO, Rimage; Michelle Munson, CEO, President, and Co-founder, Aspera; and Robert Stevenson, EVP, Interactive Entertainment, Gaikai.

The second panel will examine “Privacy Issues, Reliability Questions, Security Concerns in the Cloud Computing Space” with Dave Asprey, VP, Cloud Security, Trend Micro; Tom Mulally, Consultant, Numagic Consulting; Graham Oakes, Chairman, Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA); Rajan Samtani, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Peer Media Technologies; Dan Schnapp, Partner & Chairman of New Media, Entertainment & Technology, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Yangbin Wang, CEO, Vobile; Marvin Wheeler, Chairman, Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA); and Vic Winkler, Author, “Securing the Cloud.”

The third panel will focus on “A/V Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Clouds” with Tony Cahill, Chief Engineer, CET Universe; Guillermo Chialvo, Gerente de Tecnologia, Radio Mitre; Gerald Hensley, VP, Worldwide Entertainment Sales, Rovi Corporation; Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, Gobbler; Ajay Malhotra, EVP, North America, Prime Focus Technologies; Todd Martin, SVP, Strategic Solutions Group, Chyron; Kirk Punches, VP, Business Development, Sorenson Media; and Jostein Svendsen, CEO, WeVideo.

The fourth panel will cover “Cloud Media Storage & Delivery” with Bang Chang, VP, Server and Storage, SeaChange International; Stephen Condon, VP, Global Marketing Communications, Limelight Networks; Thomas Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates; Gianluca Ferremi, VP Sales & Marketing, Motive Television; Corey Halverson, Product Director, Media Business Solutions, Akamai; Kshitij Kumar, SVP, Mobile Video, Concurrent; Kyle Okamoto, Sr. Mgr. Product and Portfolio Mgt., Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mark Taylor, VP, Media and IP Services, Level 3.

The fifth panel will address “Cloud Measurement, Analytics, Implications” with Sean Barger, CEO, Equilibrium / EQ Network; Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst & Consultant, TVStrategies; Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Co.; Monica Ricci, Dir. of Product Marketing, CSG International; John Schiela, President, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI); Nick Strauss, Director of Sales, Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mike West, CTO, GenosTV.

The sixth panel will forecast the “Years Ahead for Cloud Computing” with Saul Berman, Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services; Ian Donahue, President, RedThorne Media; Chris Haddad, VP, Technology Evangelism, WSO2; Wayne Josel, Counsel, Media & Entertainment, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Steve Mannel, Senior Director, Media & Communications, Salesforce.com; James Mitchell, CEO & Founder, Strategic Blue; David Sterling, Partner, i3m3 Solutions; and Chuck Stormon, CEO, Attend.

Moderators will include Adam Marcus, Technology Advisor, DCIA; Brian Campanotti, CTO, Front Porch Digital; and Sari Lafferty, Business Affairs, DCIA. Share wisely, and take care.

The DCIA is proud to announce new speakers for our inaugural CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE at the 2012 NAB Show.

From creation to consumption, the NAB Show proudly serves as the incubator for excellence - helping to breathe life into content everywhere.

This second DCIA “Conference within NAB” is scheduled for Monday April 16th in N232 of the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The NAB Show has evolved over the last eight decades to continually lead its ever-changing industry. While solutions have changed to keep pace with consumer habits and technologies, aspirations to produce and deliver memorable content have remained constant.

In addition, the DCIA will exhibit in N3222M at the CLOUD COMPUTING PAVILION, a first-ever special section of the NAB Exhibit Floor totally dedicated to cloud computing.

The NAB Show will be attended by 90,000+ media and entertainment professionals from over 150 countries. More than $18.8 billion in purchasing power will be represented onsite. 1,500+ companies spread over 745,000 net square feet will exhibit. There will be more than 500 skill-building sessions; and 1,300+ members of the press will cover the event.

For more information or to register, please click here.

This very timely conference will demonstrate how software developers are addressing two major concerns with respect to cloud-based solutions for audio/video (A/V) delivery - reliability and security.

Experts will provide insights into how cloud computing impacts each stage of the content distribution chain, from collaboration to storage and delivery all the way through analytics.

Sponsoring companies include Aspera, Avid, Chyron, Front Porch Digital, and Rackspace.

The agenda for the conference, which begins at 10:30 AM and continues until 6:00 PM PT, will open with “Latest Trends in Cloud Computing Solutions for the A/V Ecosystem” and then move to “Key Pitfalls Associated with Cloud Computing in High-Value Content Implementations.”

The conference will then explore “Various Ways that Cloud Computing Is Being Applied to the Content Creation Process - from Pre- to Post-Production,” followed by “Alternative Approaches for Implementing Cloud Storage of Content Catalogs and Libraries and Leveraging Cloud-Based Distribution,” and then, “New Levels of Media Performance Data Enabled by Cloud Computing - and Impact on Other Sectors.”

The agenda will close out with “Navigating the Current Cloud Environment and Planning for What’s Next,” and finally, “Disruptive Effects of Cloud Computing Will Continue.”

Keynote speakers for each of the above areas, respectively, include Bill Kallman, CEO, Scayl; Jim Burger, Member, Dow Lohnes; Jonathan King, SVP, Joyent; Shahi Ghanem, SVP, Strategy & Marketing, BitTorrent; Scott Brown, GM & SVP Strategic Partnerships, Octoshape; Jean-Luc Chatelain, EVP, Strategy & Technology, DataDirect Networks; and James Hughes, VP and Cloud Storage Architect, Huawei.

The first panel will explore “Advanced Capabilities, New Features, Cost Advantages of Cloud Computing Solutions” with Mike Alexenko, Senior Director of Market Development, Cloud & Mobility, G-Technology; Scott Campbell, Principal, Media, Entertainment, and Telecoms, SAP; David Frerichs, Strategic Consultant, Pioneer Corporation; David Hassoun, Founder, RealEyes Media; AJ McGowan, CTO, Unicorn Media; Samir Mittal, CTO, Rimage; Michelle Munson, CEO, President, and Co-founder, Aspera; and Robert Stevenson, EVP, Interactive Entertainment, Gaikai.

The second panel will examine “Privacy Issues, Reliability Questions, Security Concerns in the Cloud Computing Space” with Dave Asprey, VP, Cloud Security, Trend Micro; Tom Mulally, Consultant, Numagic Consulting; Graham Oakes, Chairman, Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA); Rajan Samtani, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Peer Media Technologies; Dan Schnapp, Partner & Chairman of New Media, Entertainment & Technology, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Yangbin Wang, CEO, Vobile; Marvin Wheeler, Chairman, Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA); and Vic Winkler, Author, “Securing the Cloud.”

The third panel will focus on “A/V Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Clouds” with Tony Cahill, Chief Engineer, CET Universe; Guillermo Chialvo, Gerente de Tecnologia, Radio Mitre; Gerald Hensley, VP, Worldwide Entertainment Sales, Rovi Corporation; Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, Gobbler; Ajay Malhotra, EVP, North America, Prime Focus Technologies; Todd Martin, SVP, Strategic Solutions Group. Chyron; Kirk Punches, VP, Business Development, Sorenson Media; and Jostein Svendsen, CEO, WeVideo.

The fourth panel will cover “Cloud Media Storage & Delivery” with Bang Chang, VP, Server and Storage, SeaChange International; Stephen Condon, VP, Global Marketing Communications, Limelight Networks; Gianluca Ferremi, VP Sales & Marketing, Motive Television; Corey Halverson, Product Director, Media Business Solutions, Akamai; Kshitij Kumar, SVP, Mobile Video, Concurrent; Kyle Okamoto, Sr. Mgr. Product and Portfolio Mgt., Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mark Taylor, VP, Media and IP Services, Level 3.

The fifth panel will address “Cloud Measurement, Analytics, Implications” with Sean Barger, CEO, Equilibrium / EQ Network; Thomas Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates; Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst & Consultant, TVStrategies; Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Co.; Monica Ricci, Dir. of Product Marketing, CSG International; John Schiela, President, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI); Nick Strauss, Director of Sales, Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mike West, CTO, GenosTV.

The sixth panel will forecast the “Years Ahead for Cloud Computing” with Saul Berman, Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services; Ian Donahue, President, RedThorne Media; Chris Haddad, VP, Technology Evangelism, WSO2; Wayne Josel, Counsel, Media & Entertainment, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Steve Mannel, Senior Director, Media & Communications, Salesforce.com; James Mitchell, CEO & Founder, Strategic Blue; David Sterling, Partner, i3m3 Solutions; and Chuck Stormon, CEO, Attend.

Moderators will include Adam Marcus, Technology Advisor, DCIA; Brian Campanotti, CTO, Front Porch Digital; and Sari Lafferty, Business Affairs, DCIA. Share wisely, and take care.

Last summer, broadband network operators agreed to a Copyright Alert System (CAS) advanced by content providers in an attempt to reduce copyright infringement by Internet users, which many industry observers speculated would run afoul of US anti-trust laws.

Under CAS, three months from now, Internet service providers (ISPs) will be expected to start delivering educational alerts, redirecting web browsers, and temporarily blocking the Internet service of users accused by content rights holders of online infringement.

Now the question of whether CAS represents an unlawful exercise of aggregated private sector power is being raised with increased urgency.

If CAS proceeds, leading ISPs, starting in July, will implement a graduated-response scheme targeting alleged online copyright infringement of popular entertainment through a sequence of so-called Copyright Alerts.

As we said when CAS was announced, the DCIA believes that, while well intended and potentially useful within the context of a larger commercial framework, endeavors of this type exemplify two classic errors in strategy: “putting the cart before the horse” and emphasizing “the stick” in the absence of a truly viable “carrot.”

It would be much more effective to pursue advanced technological solutions - led by state-of-the-art filtering systems - and, above all - new business models - than to launch a new enforcement regime such as this in their absence.

There have been very promising developments of relevance here over the past several years both technologically and commercially, and the DCIA would be glad to bring Internet-based software developers to the table with content rights holders and ISPs to engage in a meaningful collaborative process.

A new warning-and-penalty mechanism, as thoughtful as this one may be, but which is not part of a system of robust new business solutions that will be widely adopted by consumers, is doomed to fail.

Primarily, what was missing from the mix in developing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) upon which CAS is based, was the participation of Internet-based software developers.

The DCIA, from our inception, has understood that three sectors need to collaborate in order for there to be substantive progress on these major issues: broadband network operators, content rights holders, and software developers. Two-out-of-three categories just aren’t enough.

In any case, the new scheme of graduated “Copyright Alerts” intends to offer consumers advance warning and educational opportunities before extreme penalties are implemented. It will replace the current practice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) violation notices being sent to ISPs, which then forward them to account holders.

Data used to target accused infringing file sharers has been shown not to be consistently reliable, especially with respect to intra-ISP traffic; and, particularly in the absence of reasonable due process, in addition to anti-trust concerns, the legality of the whole regime likely will be subject to class-action challenges.

In addition, sophisticated sharers increasingly use anonymizers, virtual private networks (VPNs), HTTP streaming, and one-click download services; and most file-sharing programs already provide randomized encryption by default and will therefore be undetected.

Although the system won’t have much of an effect on curtailing infringement, unfortunately it will have multiple negative consequences for broadband network operators and consumers.

Here’s how it will work. The entertainment companies will continue to hire entities to monitor web traffic, and if they notice what appears to be infringing content being downloaded, the related Internet protocol (IP) address will be identified and matched to its ISP, which will be sent an e-mail.

The MOU to which the ISPs have agreed commits them to alert subscribers. It does not, however, commit them to turning over actual subscriber information without a court order. Following is a summary of the “Copyright Alerts” that broadband subscribers can expect to receive:

• First Alert: In response to a notice from a copyright owner, an ISP will send an online alert, such as an e-mail, notifying the subscriber that his/her account may have been misused for copyright infringement, which is unlawful and in violation of subscription policies. It will direct the subscriber to educational material that will (a) help him/her check the security of his/her computer and WiFi network, (b) provide explanatory steps for avoiding copyright infringement, and (c) list alternative sources for licensed music, film, and TV content.
• Second Alert: If the alleged activity persists, the subscriber may get a second similar alert that will underscore the educational messages, or the ISP may in its discretion skip this second alert and proceed to the third.
• Third Alert: If the subscriber’s account again appears to copyright owners to have been abused for infringement, he/she will receive another alert, much like the initial alerts. However, this alert will provide a conspicuous mechanism (a click-through pop-up notice, landing page, or similar item) asking the subscriber to acknowledge receipt. This is designed to ensure that the subscriber is aware of the third copyright alert, and will remind the subscriber that copyright infringement conducted through his/her account could lead to consequences under the law and published policies.
• Fourth Alert: If the subscriber’s account again appears to copyright owners to have been misused for copyright infringement, the subscriber will receive another alert that will again require the subscriber to acknowledge receipt.
• Fifth Alert: If the subscriber’s account again appears to copyright owners to have been abused for copyright infringement, the ISP will send another alert. At this time, the ISP may take one of several steps, specified in its published policies, reasonably calculated to stop future copyright infringement. These steps, referred to as “Mitigation Measures,” may include temporary reductions of Internet speeds, redirection to a landing page until the subscriber contacts the ISP to discuss the matter or reviews and responds to educational information about copyright, or other measures that the ISP may deem necessary to help resolve the matter. ISPs are not obligated to impose any Mitigation Measure which would disable or be reasonably likely to disable the subscriber’s voice telephone service (including the ability to call 911), e-mail account, or any security or health service (such as home security or medical monitoring). The use of the Mitigation measure is waivable by the ISP at this point.
• Sixth Alert: Whether or not the ISP has previously waived using a Mitigation Measure, if the subscriber’s account again appears to copyright owners to have been misused for copyright infringement, the ISP will send another alert and will implement a Mitigation Measure as described above.

Account holders may request an independent review at any time upon payment of a $35 processing fee (that can be waived) to challenge the validity of the accusation that’s been made against them by entertainment content rights holders. They will also be able to demand evidence that the account in question is actually theirs and has not been identified as such in error.

Regrettably, the Obama administration has backed this scheme, publishing a message of support on its official White House Blog. “To win the future and succeed in the global economy, it is critical to protect the intellectual property (IP) of America’s innovators and creators,” wrote Victoria Espinel, US IP Enforcement Coordinator.

While we want to agree with Randal Milch, EVP and General Counsel of Verizon, that in terms of an enforcement regime per se, “this is a sensible approach and, importantly, one that respects the privacy and rights of subscribers” and “will set a reasonable standard for both copyright owners and ISPs to follow,” we also agree with the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF) Corynne McSherry, who said, “It would be more valuable for the White House, ISPs, and Hollywood if they found better ways to getting artists paid instead of focusing on punishment.”

An excellent way to do that will be to involve Internet-based software developers in the process.

This week, in addition to gloating about their success in bullying ISPs into implementing CAS, which as outlined above will likely fail, music industry spokespeople signaled their next target for extortive action: Google.

That’s not what we mean by involving the software sector in solving the infringement problem. Share wisely, and take care.

The DCIA is proud to publicly announce the agenda, sponsors, and speakers for our inaugural CLOUD COMPUTING CONFERENCE at the 2012 NAB Show.

This second DCIA “Conference within NAB” is scheduled for Monday April 16th in N232 of the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition, the DCIA will exhibit in N3222M at the CLOUD COMPUTING PAVILION, a first-ever special section of the NAB Exhibit Floor totally dedicated to cloud computing.

For more information or to register, please click here .

This very timely conference will demonstrate how software developers are addressing two major concerns with respect to cloud-based solutions for audio/video (A/V) delivery - reliability and security.

Experts will provide insights into how cloud computing impacts each stage of the content distribution chain, from collaboration to storage and delivery all the way through analytics.

Sponsoring companies include Aspera, Avid, Chyron, Front Porch Digital, and Rackspace.

The agenda for the conference, which begins at 10:30 AM and continues until 6:00 PM PT, will open with “Latest Trends in Cloud Computing Solutions for the A/V Ecosystem” and then move to “Key Pitfalls Associated with Cloud Computing in High-Value Content Implementations.”

The conference will then explore “Various Ways that Cloud Computing Is Being Applied to the Content Creation Process - from Pre- to Post-Production,” followed by “Alternative Approaches for Implementing Cloud Storage of Content Catalogs and Libraries and Leveraging Cloud-Based Distribution,” and then, “New Levels of Media Performance Data Enabled by Cloud Computing - and Impact on Other Sectors.”

The agenda will close out with “Navigating the Current Cloud Environment and Planning for What’s Next,” and finally, “Disruptive Effects of Cloud Computing Will Continue.”

Keynote speakers for each of the above areas, respectively, include Bill Kallman, CEO, Scayl; Jim Burger, Member, Dow Lohnes; Jonathan King, SVP, Joyent; Shahi Ghanem, SVP, Strategy & Marketing, BitTorrent; Scott Brown, GM & SVP Strategic Partnerships, Octoshape; Jean-Luc Chatelain, EVP, Strategy & Technology, DataDirect Networks; and Ashish Gupta, Strategist, Cloud Infrastructure, Huawei.

The first panel will explore “Advanced Capabilities, New Features, Cost Advantages of Cloud Computing Solutions” with Mike Alexenko, Senior Director of Market Development, Cloud & Mobility, G-Technology; Scott Campbell, Principal, Media, Entertainment, and Telecoms, SAP; David Frerichs, Strategic Consultant, Pioneer Corporation; David Hassoun, Founder, RealEyes Media; AJ McGowan, CTO, Unicorn Media; Samir Mittal, CTO, Rimage; Michelle Munson, CEO, President, and Co-founder, Aspera; and Robert Stevenson, EVP, Interactive Entertainment, Gaikai.

The second panel will examine “Privacy Issues, Reliability Questions, Security Concerns in the Cloud Computing Space” with Dave Asprey, VP, Cloud Security, Trend Micro; Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, Gobbler; Tom Mulally, Consultant, Numagic Consulting; Graham Oakes, Chairman, Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA); Dan Schnapp, Partner & Chairman of New Media, Entertainment & Technology, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Yangbin Wang, CEO, Vobile; Marvin Wheeler, Chairman, Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA); and Vic Winkler, Author, “Securing the Cloud.”

The third panel will focus on “A/V Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Clouds” with Jim Cady, President & CEO, Slacker; Tony Cahill, Chief Engineer, CET Universe; Guillermo Chialvo, Gerente de Tecnologia, Radio Mitre; Gerald Hensley, VP, Worldwide Entertainment Sales, Rovi Corporation; Ajay Malhotra, EVP, North America, Prime Focus Technologies; Todd Martin, SVP, Strategic Solutions Group. Chyron; Kirk Punches, VP, Business Development, Sorenson Media; and Jostein Svendsen, CEO, WeVideo.

The fourth panel will cover “Cloud Media Storage & Delivery” with Kris Alexander, Chief Strategist, Connected Devices & Gaming, Akamai; Bang Chang, VP, Server and Storage, SeaChange International; Stephen Condon, VP, Global Marketing Communications, Limelight Networks; Gianluca Ferremi, VP Sales & Marketing, Motive Television; Michael King, Director of Marketing, DataDirect Networks; Kshitij Kumar, SVP, Mobile Video, Concurrent; Kyle Okamoto, Sr. Mgr. Product and Portfolio Mgt., Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mark Taylor, VP, Media and IP Services, Level 3.

The fifth panel will address “Cloud Measurement, Analytics, Implications” with Sean Barger, CEO, Equilibrium; Thomas Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates; Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst & Consultant, TVStrategies; Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Co.; Jeff Kim, COO, US & EMEA, CDNetworks; Monica Ricci, Dir. of Product Marketing, CSG Systems; John Schiela, President, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI); Nick Strauss, Director of Sales, Verizon Digital Media Services; and Mike West, CTO, GenosTV.

The sixth panel will forecast the “Years Ahead for Cloud Computing” with Saul Berman, Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services; Ian Donahue, President, RedThorne Media; Chris Haddad, VP, Technology Evangelism, WSO2; Wayne Josel, Counsel, Media & Entertainment, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Steve Mannel, Senior Director, Media & Communications, Salesforce.com; James Mitchell, CEO & Founder, Strategic Blue; David Sterling, Partner, i3m3 Solutions; and Chuck Stormon, CEO, Attend.

Moderators will include Adam Marcus, Technology Advisor, DCIA; Brian Campanotti, CTO, Front Porch Digital; and Sari Lafferty, Business Affairs, DCIA.

We’re also pleased to offer DCINFO readers a special opportunity to attend the NAB Show at no cost: 1) Go to www.nabshow.com. 2) Click on “Register now.” 3) Enter PASS CODE: 2012.

These passes provide access to all Exhibits, NAB Show Opening, General Sessions, Info Sessions, and Content Theater. Conferences registrations are additional. The expiration date is March 30th to take advantage of this valuable offer. Share wisely, and take care.