In this paper, we identify challenges of involving different stakeholders in distributed co-creative open innovation processes and discuss how these challenges can be handled. In the LoCoMedia project, researchers, newspaper representatives and readers/users have co-created innovative user generated content (UGC) services. With a Living Lab approach with the user in focus in a real life setting, we have experimented with different ways of involving different stakeholders in nine experimental UGC projects. The study concludes that careful recruitment, face to face meetings as a compliment to online activities, heterogeneous participant groups, feedback and careful selection of a flexible online platform is important aspects for involving different stakeholders in co-creating innovative processes. © 2012 IEEE.