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The purpose of this paper is to compare the history of the notion of universal service in the USA and the EU.

The paper takes the form of an historical account based on desk research and interviews.

The paper finds that the concept looks “universal”, so to speak, but is grounded in different legal and economic traditions. From an historical perspective, the conditions appear to be highly differentiated on either side of the Atlantic. Ironically, the main point in common, beyond the mere use of the same term, is the discrepancy between the alleged goal and the socio‐economic reality, which has existed for some decades.

The paper puts into an historical perspective the notion of universal service. It identifies strengths and weaknesses of the implemention in the EU and the USA.

The purpose of this paper is to enquire into various forms of innovation and observable configurations in films are observable and document the specific technological fields in cinema, and innovations brought by young IT and digital companies.

The paper is based on desk research, a review of literature, review of the technical journals, analysis of annual reports and meeting with experts and industry participants.

It identifies in most cases the presence of information and communication technologies (ICT) companies, new middlemen of the digital age, that integrate in one or another way the core activity of the cinema industry. These companies (“specialized technological companies” with edge R & D) are playing the rather recent role of “new middlemen” liaising between the different layers of a transformed industrial environment described as the “new ICT ecosystem”.

The size of the sample (case studies) as the paper relies on some emblematic cases which come with some limits for any generalisation. Besides, most of the information is derived from company websites, complemented by trade press which clearly comes with some constraints in terms of accuracy.

The paper concludes delineating some potential policy interventions, and identifies the challenges ahead with a focus on the EU.

Innovation is not so frequently dealt with in the studies of the cultural sectors. One very important issue is neglected both in the scientific literature and in the committed reports: the characteristic and the management of R & D in the creative industries, especially in the cultural sector. The paper shed some light on this issue.

The purpose is to review public policies and government interventions in the book publishing industry, a sector where public policies have blossomed. The paper concentrates on five major issues: intellectual property rights and issue of infringements (piracy), the debate about the fixed price of books (vs free market) or the agency versus wholesale models, VAT discrimination between printed books and e-books, the role institutions like libraries and registration authorities, and competition issues.

This article is based on an extensive set of research initiated by the EC JRC IPTS on the “Statistical, ecosystems and competitiveness analysis of the Media and Content Industries”. The research implied an extensive review of the literature, meetings with players and validation workshops. This paper focuses more on the analysis of policy documents and position of players.

The paper shows a growing discrepancy between the leading position of the EU publishing industry and its position in on-line distribution and production of e-books. The EU leads the global publishing market, with companies like Bertelsmann, Hachette or Pearson. However, compared with the USA, in the EU, the e-book market is still negligible. The European e-book market is fragmented, expanding fast in the UK and lagging behind in other Member States. As digitisation of books and earlier on-line distribution of physical books are changing the landscape, the paper considers potential policies at EU level to coordinate, accompany and speed up the process of digitalisation.

The article stems from the research initiated by the IPTS on the “Statistical, ecosystems and competitiveness analysis of the Media and Content Industries” (MCI). This research was based on a review and synthesis of the available literature, desk research. The results were reviewed by experts from the book industry at dedicated meetings. The paper does not cover other important public policy issues such as the role in the functioning of democracies, triggering consequent rights and responsibilities with respect to human rights, democracy, and freedom of information and cultural diversity.

To contribute to the debate about the policies needed for the economic health and development conditions that will support the future competitiveness of the book publishing industry. There is a need to better understand if policies designed for the physical world will be effective in a digital world. Distribution is very different in a digital world from physical distribution; these supply-side policies may reach their limits.

In the media and entertainment markets, the book market is the only one where EU companies (Bertelsman, Hachette, Pearson, Wolters Kluwer) lead. However, this industry is one of the less covered segments of these markets. Besides, the paper combines a review of legacy policies such as copyright, fixed prices, and issues raised by the digital shift such as VAT discrimination between physical books and e-books.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce to the concepts related with universal service and the papers in the special issue about “Re‐thinking universal service in the digital era”.

This special issue aims to provide support to the policy process with regard to universal service in a digital context. The papers in the issue highlight developments that are shaking up the current universal service model. They consider universal service from a set of different dimensions, encompassing both demand and supply side considerations. Also a comparative outlook draws lessons from a representative set of existing regulatory models.

The paper finds that the foundations and concept of universal service are experiencing a profound transformation as we enter into a new phase of information society development. A new set of policy goals and tools is the main consequence of this change.

The paper presents a timely account of the universal service policy debate.

This paper aims to give conclusions from the papers in the special issue about “Re‐thinking universal service in the digital era”.

A summary of the themes, trends and new concepts about universal service is compiled from the varied viewpoints introduced in the issue. The editors also appraise the mobile and broadband universal service candidates under the different perspectives in the issue, point out a number of questionable assumptions and gaps in the universal service stories, and touch on the international currents of influence in universal service policy. Finally, a succinct vision of a universal service policy for Europe is outlined.

This special issue aims to provide support to the policy process with regard to universal service in a digital context. The papers in the issue highlight developments that are shaking up the current universal service model. They consider universal service from a set of different dimensions, encompassing both demand and supply side considerations. Also a comparative outlook draws lessons from a representative set of existing regulatory models.

The paper provides a summary of the main avenues for the upcoming universal service policy debate.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how spectrum policy can support the changing objectives of universal service in communications services.

The paper presents a review of current universal service obligations, analysis of how they will change, and identification of spectrum policy responses.

The study reveals that, in future, universal service will be delivered in a technologically neutral way; this will require a re‐appraisal of the way it is provided and the development of spectrum management techniques to ensure that it is provided efficiently.

The paper contains advice to European and other regulators about medium‐term universal service policy.

The paper explores the linkage between two previously separated areas of research.