2024 HY1 Media and Entertainment

Owned by Randy Givens
Last updated: Aug 18, 2024
5 min read

Jan - April 2024

Bi-Annual Report

Q1 Summary 

Overview 
MESIG is focused on applying Hyperledger (DLTs) to media and entertainment-specific scenarios. The topics covered include decentralized metadata, digital distribution, copyright protection, royalty payments, value chains, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), tokenized content, counterfeit reduction, registered digital ownership, metaverse, Web 3.0, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that will lead to real-world solutions for motion picture & television directors, authors, audiovisual influencers, photographic publishers, gamers, music creators, and artists. 


MESIG progress Summary
Blockchain/AI Roundtable, Created by Brett Russell: 
The entertainment industry is grappling with obstacles to adopting artificial intelligence, and this roundtable discussion is designed to address them. Experts from diverse sectors will collaborate, including film production, entertainment law, copyright, intellectual property, accounting, blockchain development, gaming, and content creation. This esteemed panel includes writers, authors, agents, hair stylists, makeup artists, union representatives, distribution professionals, payment specialists, payroll experts, streaming service representatives, marketing professionals, and AI project managers. The mission of this roundtable is to develop technological solutions that will positively impact those affected by these challenges. Follow the discussion using the following hashtags: #Entertainment #Lawyers #MediaServices #Payroll #CanadianMediaProducersAssociation (CMPA) #FilmBudget, Inc. (#FilmBudget.com), #ProducerFinanceFilm, #ProductionFilmPhotography, #ProducersGuildofAmerica, #DirectorsGuildofAmerica, #WritersGuildofAmerica, West #WritersGuildofAmerica East - WGAE #ActorsConnection, #ActorsConnectionStage32 #ATSE (#stage32.com), and #CostumeDesignersGuildAwards.


Leadership Transformation:
Sandy Aggarwal, a dedicated and valued member of the MESIG, has stepped down from his role as Co-Chair due to the increasing demands of work and home commitments. His departure is a significant loss for the MESIG, as his expertise, insights, and active participation have been invaluable.
Sandy's contributions to the MESIG have been multifaceted and impactful. He brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in gaming to the group, and we highly regarded his insights. His ability to identify and address complex issues, combined with his collaborative approach, played a crucial role in shaping the direction and success of the MESIG.
Sandy's dedication to the MESIG extended beyond his official role as Co-Chair. He organized and planned events, workshops, and conferences, ensuring these initiatives were well-coordinated and impactful. His commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within the MESIG was also evident in his interactions with members.

We sincerely thank Sandy for his outstanding contributions to the MESIG. His leadership, dedication, and passion have left an indelible mark on the group. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and hope to continue collaborating with him.
Brett Russell is now the Chairman of MESIG. 

Monthly Meetings 
Monthly meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Monday of each month @  9 am PST & noon CEST.
The roundtable sessions will be announced.


Blockchain AI Roundtable 1
Monday, January 29, 2024
The Hyperleger Code of Conduct: 
The Hyperledger Antitrust Statement 
Hyperledger MESIG Membership page
New Member Center
Follow us on LinkedIn  
Greetings & Guest Introductions
Discussion:
The Blockchain AI Roundtable, founded by industry experts Brett Russell, Karen Kilroy, Todd Holmes, Ph.D., Ethan Kuehl, and Jay Deverett, has initiated discussions to address critical concerns in the Entertainment Industry. The roundtable explores how Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technologies can provide innovative solutions and protection for industry participants, thus enhancing their overall experience.


Resource Links: 
https://www.smpte.org/  
https://c2pa.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/
https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2024/1/10/tennessee-first-in-the-nation-to-address-ai-impact-on-music-industry.html


Updates: upcoming presentations
Join the group's Discord chat channel: Chat and collaborate with group members or view the daily interactions happening across hyperledger's growing umbrella at the Media & Entertainment SIG chat channel.


Blockchain AI Roundtable 2
Monday, March 4, 2024
The Hyperleger Code of Conduct: 
The Hyperledger Antitrust Statement 
Hyperledger MESIG Membership page
Follow us on LinkedIn  
Greetings & Guest Introductions


Discussion:
The second Blockchain AI Roundtable featured a dynamic panel of experts, including Brett Russell, Karen Kilroy, Ethan Kuehl, and Orson Weems. Our distinguished panelists discussed the following issues: 
What standards groups and agencies should participate in policymaking regarding the use of AI in the entertainment industry?
Should the entertainment industry create a category for any film, TV, music, or streaming production that uses AI during development? Industry benefit or detriment?
Blockchain; permissioned and public ledgers -> Time Stamping, storing datasets, rights metadata, training data, content identifiers, digital fingerprinting, monetization - smart contracts.
Training data used to produce new music, film & TV videos, script writing, etc. Should it be protected? Regulated? Licensed?


On February 14, 2024, a press release announced the launch of File Baby, cofounded by Karen Kilroy (CEO), Orson Weems (President), Scott Harris (Share Holder), and Ethan Kueh (The Distinguished Architect). This groundbreaking platform tackles concerns about the authenticity and trackability of digital content in the fast-paced digital world. To address these issues, File Baby empowers professionals, including writers, artists, lawyers, inventors, filmmakers, students, and professors, to protect their digital intellectual property.


Leveraging standards established by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), File Baby is a turnkey platform that enables users to assert ownership, limit AI content consumption, and take control of their work. Notable organizations like Adobe, Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are also members of C2PA and CAI, indicating the platform's credibility and recognition in the industry. Karen Kilroy, Orson Weems, and Ethan Kueh are also among the shareholders.


During the Blockchain Roundtable 2, Orson Weems highlighted the "Content Credentials" concept and its significance. As outlined in the discussion (listed below), Content Credentials are a form of metadata associated with various media formats, including images, audio, and video. They provide contextual information and enable transparent storytelling, facilitating attribution for creators and companies. Furthermore, Content Credentials empower consumers to make informed decisions based on trust and serve as a tool for organizations to safeguard their brand identity. The Content Authenticity Initiative concisely defines Content Credentials—special appreciation and gratitude to Orson Weems for providing the following outline in our chat.

 
According to the Content Authenticity Initiative, What Are Content Credentials?

A new kind of metadata for images, audio, and video (including streaming and live). This serves as a platform for genuine storytelling through transparency and gives creators and companies proper attribution for their content. It also enables consumers to make well-informed trust decisions and helps organizations safeguard their brands.


Resource Links: 
https://file.baby/
https://c2pa.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/verify
Discussion Articles & Links https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/articles/2024/update-generative-ai-and-ai-tools-bbc

Updates: upcoming presentations:
Join the group's Discord chat channel: Chat and collaborate with group members or view the daily interactions happening across hyperledger's growing umbrella at the Media & Entertainment SIG chat channel


MONTHLY MEETING
Monday, March 25, 2024
Agenda Topic Discussions:
The Hyperleger Code of Conduct: 
The Hyperledger Antitrust Statement 
Hyperledger MESIG Membership page
Follow us on LinkedIn  
Greetings & Distinguished Guests Introductions: Brett Russell, Karen Kilroy, Ethan Kuehl, Orson Weems, and Andy Rosen


Discussion:
During a group discussion, Karen Kilroy and the other participants stressed the importance of authenticity, verification, and relevant content in ensuring equitable compensation for artists and creators. The discussion delved into various pertinent topics surrounding this central theme.


Announcements:
Additional dates will be added for the Roundtable Sessions.
Resource Links: 
https://file.baby/
https://c2pa.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/verify
https://www.linkedin.com/company/friends-of-justin/
Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity
https://kilroyblockchain.com
https://blockchaintetheredai.com
https://friendsofjustin.knowbots.org


Updates: upcoming presentations
Join the group's Discord chat channel: Chat and collaborate with group members or view the daily interactions happening across Hyperledger's growing umbrella at the Media & Entertainment SIG chat channel.


Monday, April 22th, 2024
Agenda Topic Discussions:
The Hyperleger Code of Conduct: 
The Hyperledger Antitrust Statement 
Hyperledger MESIG Membership page
Follow us on LinkedIn  
Greetings & Distinguished Guests Introductions: Brett Russell, Karen Kilroy, Orson Weems, and Todd Holmes, Ph.D.


Discussion:
Blockchain entrepreneur, author, and our mediator Karen Kilroy led the discussion on AI data training. During the conversation, the focus turned to data training for AI's potential for entertainment and media monetization. One notable example was the Bowie Bond. Investopedia explains that the Bowie Bond was an asset-backed security that used the royalty streams from David Bowie's current and future albums and live performances as collateral. 


Announcements:
Additional dates will be added for the Roundtable Sessions.


Resource Links: 
https://file.baby/
https://c2pa.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/
https://contentcredentials.org/verify
https://www.linkedin.com/company/friends-of-justin/
Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity
https://kilroyblockchain.com
https://blockchaintetheredai.com
https://friendsofjustin.knowbots.org


Discussion Articles & Links: 
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bowie-bond.asp
https://www.thembj.org/2016/01/bowies-bonds-an-appreciation/


Code links:
During the training session, Karen Kilroy presented the data framework code from her book: https://blockchaintetheredai.com/
https://github.com/kilroyblockchain/bta-frontend
https://github.com/kilroyblockchain/bta-backend
https://github.com/kilroyblockchain/bta-blockchain
https://github.com/kilroyblockchain/bta-aimodel
https://github.com/kilroyblockchain/bc-connector


Updates: upcoming presentations
Join the group's Discord chat channel: Chat and collaborate with group members or view the daily interactions happening across Hyperledger's growing umbrella at the Media & Entertainment SIG chat channel.


Date Published: 08/18/24

Report Author: Randy Givens, MESIG Assistant Chair