SXSW Interactive: March 13-17, 2009

Stanford professor, digital copyright reform activist, and SXSW alum Lawrence Lessig popped into my television screen last night to take on Stephen Colbert.

Lessig was there to promote his new book Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy. Remix offered Lessig a chance to tote new commerce as arenas that allow the free mixing of ideas rather than the isolating of existing works via copyright. He even commented on Colbert's own Blue Screen Challenges as an excellent example of making money from the forum of convergence, even if the content is free.

Of course, we at ScreenBurn know full well the beauty of user-generated mods, but can't help wondering how Lessig's view on copyright might affect Susan Wu's talk on Virtual Goods or Steve Swedler's panel, How Social Networks are Killing the Revolution.

Some interesting ideas are floating around as March draws near.

We are excited to announce the addition of Steven Johnson to this year's lineup of participants. The author of books such as "Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities and Software" and "Everything Bad is Good For You", he will speak on the afternoon of Friday, March 13. Those who attended last year's event know what a compelling thinker he is: Johnson and Henry Jenkins of the MIT Media Lab provided Opening Remarks at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival (listen to audio of their intriguing presentation by clicking to the Podcast Page). Be there in 2009 to hear him talk about his newest release "The Invention Of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution and the Birth of America".

The Hearst Corporation, via subsidiary UGO, has acquired 1UP in a deal announced yesterday. Lots of competing voices talking about this move, but you can read the UGO announcement and the thoughts of 1UP editor Sam Kennedy, respectively.

The move offers an infusion of talented gaming writers for Hearst, while also providing a powerful media company to back the current staff at 1UP. Hearst clearly sees this as a new media move since one causality of the merger will be the end of venerable magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.

However, thankfully, the digital presses—and the related posting threads—will continue to go on!

Image Source: 1UP.com

Many of our Registrants, Filmmakers, Panelists, Bands and fans come to Austin from abroad and we appreciate the distance you travel to attend SXSW each year.

As of January 12th 2009, travelers entering the US with passports from Visa Waiver Program countries must obtain advance online travel authorization by visiting the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website (this online authorization is free).

Travelers historically provided this same information via simple forms onboard their flight or at US immigration but it is now required in advance of your travel. Most applications (99.5%) are instantly approved. But the few who are denied must apply for visas (which takes time).

We want your travel to the States to go well and hope that this information helps. For more information about traveling to Austin, click here.

We are often asked about new features to the festival. One of the many surprises in store for 2009 is the ScreenBurn at SXSW Game Design Competition which provides a venue for emerging designers to pitch their video game concept to a jury of established professionals. Participants were asked to submit their ideas for a game they would like to develop. From those ideas, semi-finalists will be asked to produce a graphic presentation of their concept. Four finalists in each category will present at their idea at the 2009 SXSW ScreenBurn at SXSW Interactive Festival in March.

Read more about other new elements for SXSW 2009 at or our always informative FAQ page. If you have a question about the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival, chances are, you can find the answer in the SXSW Interactive FAQ.

The SXSW Interactive Festival brings together digital creatives from across the United States and around the world. In particular, the event has enjoyed a large increase in attendance from British-based new media experts over the last few years. Look for an even bigger presence in 2009, thanks to the first-ever Digital Mission which will bring 40 of the UK's hottest tech companies to Austin in March. From AMEE to Yiibu, the full alphabetical list of participating businesses has now been released. And for even more information on the Digital Mission, click here to read the press release announcing these 40 companies.

To kick-start the new year, airlines in the U.S. and around the world have slashed airfares making travel to SXSW ridiculously cheap from lots of places. Airfares under $300 are commonplace online and travel from Los Angeles to Austin can be had for as low as $218. Fare sales like this usually don’t last long so don’t hesitate to make your SXSW plans.

Register now and take advantage of the discount badge price (before January 16th), inexpensive hotels (outside downtown), and cheap airfares (while they last).