Abstract:
The author put forward a serious problem at first that information infrastructure which is made up of combination of new technologies (Information in digital form, computer networks, and the Web) has the potential to demonish the careful balancing of public good and private interest that has emerged from the evolution of U.S. intellectual property law. The reason to this problem is simple that with digital technologies, it is very easy to make and distribute huge amount of copies of law-protected works effortlessly and cost-effectively. As a result, the author calls for rethinking about many of our premises and practices. To address this problem, the author presents a combination of solutions, which are technological solutions, innovative business model, multiple views, and adjustment of intellectual property laws. The author also realized that none of these solutions can wipe out the problem completely, but each one of them can reduce the problem sharply. As a conclusion, the author indicates that the society as a whole will ajust to the reality and carry on in familar ways. But accommodation without proper solutions is not enough.
The reason I picked up this article is that infriging copy rights (piracy) seems to be fairly popular after all those free tools and technologies made available under the freeconomics model. However, it is not reasonable to blame the free system partly because free is a new trend in the 21st century – it brings about progress and inevitably weakness and new challenges and it is irreversible. So, under the new system, it requires us to have new understandings and therefore new measures on these challenges. The author does a great job in analysing the situation and put forward unique and innovative methods to deal with these problems. One of the solutions fits tightly with Chris Andersen’s free model – give away the product，make money from an auxiliary service;give away the product, sell upgrades;give away one piece that promotes another; offer extreme customization;offer a mass-market product at a low price and high volume, along with frequent improvements. The central idea here is, according to the author, to keep the price extremely low to reduce the intention and pressure for piracy.
I think this is a classic example of using free in a creative way to deal with piracy issues.
Filed under: Leading discussion
Wither Moore’s Law & Communication technologies and Social Control
Reflection on Whither Moore’s Law:
To understand this chapter better, I Fackcheck the definition of semiconductors:
“A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity that is intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor. A semiconductor behaves as an insulator at very low temperature, and has an appreciable electrical conductivity at room temperature although much lower conductivity than a conductor. Commonly used semiconducting materials are silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.” (more…)
Filed under: Leading discussion
Here is a video post on youtube regarding to the money issues in former campaigns, it made it quite clear that to participate in the election campaign is all about money and TV ads, let alone to win one.
In the Square Pegs & Round Holes: Applying Campaign Finance Law to the Internet – Risks to Free Expression and Democratic Values, the author implies that Internet as a new form of media channel can engage more citizens into the political process and overcome the advantage of money and traditional organization, due to its “decentralized, open, global, abundant, inexpensive, interactive and user-control” nature. More importantly, the author indicates that the main role of Internet in the political process is to turn the traditionally preaching-style political campaign into a transparent and interactive campaign through creating opportunities for new forms of speech. The evidence provided in the article is that “Real-time dialogues can be hosted, creating parallel to the town hall meeting without the time and expense. Conversation can be held outside of real-time as postings on Web sites form “threaded” discussions on specific topics, which can be archived and returned to at any time” Further more, the author introduce the U.S Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), and its regulations on political activities in the cyber world through examining pros and cons of those regulations on the campaign itself. (more…)
