INTRODUCING DIDIY D5.6: INSTITUTIONS AND CREATIVE DiDIY

Digital DIY (DiDIY) is, in many of its aspects, an avenue for creative expression. However, the practice of DiDIY in creative cultures can be expected to have an indirect impact on the value of professionalism and the traditional institutions and regulatory mechanisms that professional work has generated. Our D5.6 report, "Institutions and Creative DiDIY", critically investigates the ethical issues raised by that impact.

Section 2 specifies what we mean exactly by “creative DiDIY”, as opposed to DiDIY more generally. With the help of illustrations, we distinguish several major categories of creative DiDIY. In section 3, we then consider how some of those forms of creative DiDIY present a challenge to existing institutions and regulatory mechanisms. In that context, we pursue further the discussion, started in D6.1 "Dominant legal challenges and solutions practised", on how to deal with the potential risks that DiDIY products might present in terms of safety and liability, and describe and evaluate a few additional solutions that have been proposed in the existing literature.

We particularly note the merits of the proposal to institute a clearninghouse that would sell digital blueprints for creative DiDIY products certified as safe. We conclude our analysis by emphasizing the need for further reflection and discussion on these issues, and the importance of avoiding exaggerating the regulatory challenges presented by creative DiDIY in light of the current evidence.