The European Commission has published a recent study on the “interactive contents, the digital convergence and their consequences for the information society”, according to which the contents of the internet will have a turnover in Europe alone of 8.3 billion euros by 2010, equivalent to a growth of 400% over the current situation. For consumers, providers and businesses the possibilities offered at the European level by the various markets on line (now estimated at 20% of the entire turnover of the music business and 33% for videogames) have been increased by the “spread of broadband, the introduction of advanced mobile networks and the generalized adoption of digital systems”. The study further identifies 36 “obstacles” to the progress of on-line contents: the main ones are connectivity, piracy and the uncertainty of the existing legal framework at the Community level. Brussels has announced its intention to present in the second half of the year a new package of proposals on online contents of the European single market.
