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Paying Attention to Filesharing
Filesharers are all too often characterized as lawless neanderthals who “just want things for free.” Of course, the evidence shows that in fact, digital sales are increasing and many studies have suggested that sharers actually buy more. Unfortunately, two of the most popular conclusions from this completely overlook the nature (and power) of global information…
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How to Save the Music Industry
I first started getting interested in “copyfight” and issues related to filesharing in college, where I was introduced to a local network where resident students across the university campus could connect and share what they loved on- and offline. As the music industry continued to ratchet up their anti-sharing campaigns, I thought that the iTunes…
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Who Really Has the Moral High Ground on Filesharing?
A number of people I have talked to claim that they do not engage in filesharing because “it’s wrong,” a sentiment that seems deeply rooted in the idea that sharing files involves taking something that doesn’t belong to you; that is, stealing. These people believe they are taking the “moral high ground” by refusing to…
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The “Right” to Get Paid?
The concept of an artist’s “right to get paid” for their efforts inevitably arises in any discussion of filesharing and the future of the web. The thought is that artists have worked hard for what they’ve produced and as a result, should be guaranteed some kind of compensation. Following this is the idea that if…
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Deconstructing Michael Lynton
For those of you who missed it, Michael Lynton is the venerable Charmain and CEO of MPAA member studio Sony Pictures entertainment who said, in words that are destined to be etched on the monument to the Days That Were, that “I’m a guy who sees nothing good having come from the Internet. Period.” He’s…
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Turning Music Piracy Into Business: A BitTorrent Tracker Model
By now everybody has heard of music piracy, a trend that has quickly spread across the world as vast networks of users connect to swap their favorite tracks in the form of digital files. Many attempts have been made to curtail this sensation, from cumbersome “Digital Rights Management” or DRM on purchased content to subscription-based…
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Bricks, Windows, and Sam I Am
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, president and CEO of the LEGO Company; William Gates, founder of the Microsoft Windows operating system; and Theodor Seuss Geisel, author-illustrator of over forty children’s books. While at first blush these three men may appear entirely unrelated, they do share one common aspect. Each has had a great influence on my life, providing a…
Matter, Energy, and Life of Michaela A. Castello.