Dear Supports
I am extremely honoured to declare Victory on this petition that has brought exorbitant change to Maltese Content Creators and to Malta’s digital ecosystem. Maltese individuals and organisations are now at par with fellow creators in Europe. I thank you all for signing the petition and in supporting this cause that made headlines and news features multiple times throughout last week and this.
And history was made
14th March 2019 Google and its sub YouTube officially included Malta in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) past an intense 18 months of voluntary efforts to topple the 10 year long blockade and bring equity in terms of being fair and impartial with the Maltese.
A detailed recount including milestone timelines can be viewed at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-i-obtained-equity-from-global-tech-giant-google-inc-fabian-borg/
Official statement from Enrico Bellini, Public Policy Manager, Google
“We are happy to announce the availability of the YPP in Malta, a sign that positive and concrete results are reachable through dialogue and collaboration between creators, institutions and companies to help protect and monetize contents online. With this further improvement we hope YouTube will become even more an engine for growth, bringing new opportunities for the Maltese creative ecosystem”.
Who were the salient key players in all this…
Many heard from the news that a nine year old girl supported by her younger brother spearheaded this change and that’s all true. Giulia and Luca (my children) have started a revolt on September 2017, past our return from a family vacation in Dubai, when they realised that they cannot monetize their channel to generate funds for yet again another great family vacation to share with the rest of the world. After much perseverance from Giulia, such led me to investigate the reasons why a full EU member state like Malta was out of the YPP. The findings led me to start this very petition on Change.org.
While in urban terms, all Maltese owe them a "beer" :), you can thank Giulia and Luca by visiting their channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP0erH3nGB7FkzawNLzvSuQ and if you like what they produce, you may subscribe to their channel called DUDE&CO. Generation Z, kids these days amaze.
Other salient key players that aided in the lobby are:
- The Head of State, Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta
- The Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat
- Honourable Francis Zammit Dimech MEP
- Honourable Silvio Schembri - Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, MP
- All the remaining representatives of Parliament and in Brussels that signed the petition.
I would like to thank the Public Policy Manager of Google Mr Enrico Bellini for being the channel within Google to make this happen, who was cordial, helpful and resourceful throughout these last eighteen months. Enrico I hearty wish you success in your endeavours with Google. You deserve full credit for walking the miles, a scarcity these days.
Lastly, I would like to thank all the local news rooms and media houses whose salient work raised national awareness.
Creators Malta (#CreatorsMT) an official home
I am also delighted that Maltese content creators have a place to call home that is officially endorsed and recognised by Google, YouTube and the Maltese Government. Existing Maltese Content Creators, Casts, Camera Crews and Editors including those aspiring to become can freely join Creators Malta on the official page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorsmalta/
Creators Malta is a cohort of Maltese creators and followers alike that come together for support and knowledge sharing. It is great to be part of the group.
With best regards and thanks to all
Fabian Borg