Video-On-Demand policy best practices roundtable participants. Photo: Asia Video Industry Association

Taiwan’s Video-On-Demand (VOD) industry associations today met with government officials at a roundtable event to share and promote best practices that foster growth while safeguarding consumer interests through self-regulation and collaborating on anti-piracy efforts. The event was hosted by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA), the Asia Pacific trade association for the video industry, and supported by Taiwan’s New Media Entertainment Association (NMEA) as well as the OTT Association. The National Communications Commission (NCC) was also in attendance.

Roundtable participants discussed the Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVOD) Content Code, a self-regulation framework recently announced by SVOD service providers in Southeast Asia. The code sets principles to ensure that content offered on participating platforms is authentic, free from inappropriate content. Content providers also pledge to provide consumer control features to let users make appropriate viewing choices for themselves and their families. The code not only serves to provide VOD platforms a standard to hold themselves to, but helps distinguish legitimate services from pirate sites.

Roundtable participants also pooled together their thoughts on the common concern of combating online piracy; discussing insights, trends, and best practices from Taiwan and around the world. Recognizing how the availability of legitimate VOD services contributes to a decline in online piracy, participants explored how to better coordinate enforcement efforts, encourage stronger private-public sector partnerships, the impact of current regulation, the role of technology in enhancing security, as well as how the VOD industry can make legal content more accessible.