It's way too late to hope that a conference of supposed experts is going to resolve anything. As artists and creators, we believe that the free and ubiquitous distribution of our works in digital form is not a problem to be overcome, but rather an opportunity to be seized - an opportunity to reach our audiences directly, with no middlemen. This is one-half of a gift economy for culture. Such reciprocation represents the return stroke of a new economic engine. We aren't absolutely certain that this strategy will work, but we are sure that it is worth a try.
Good design suggests the simplest possible approach.
A means for artists and creators to release digital representations of their work, as a gift to the world and to future generations. A means for members of the public to contribute directly to artists - as a reward for work already released and an incentive for continued production. To which we may add, the requirement that it be reasonably difficult to abuse, and brainlessly simple to use. For now, we will be making these available for download via normal HTTP or FTP servers. Welcome to Potlatch.