Re: Intellectual Property and the Default State

jp may (jpm@TWEB.COM)
Sun, 21 Jul 1996 16:10:01 -0700

Taylor noteth:

>>Ripped off CDs (music and data) in Asia is an enormous, HUGE business. In
>>the US, its a trivial business.
>>
>>Is there any difference in technology? No.
>>
>>What is the difference? Only in enforcement and societal attitudes.
>
>But what will happen when I can get music data over the net from these
>Chinese pirates just as easily as I can get it from The Virgin Mega Store
>downtown. Heck it would be even easier because I don't have to get off my
>well cushioned ass to do it. I can just log in in the morning. Go to the
>megasite on the web and just start to download the many tracks of music
>that catch my fancy while I work. Instant entertainment.
>

Perhaps, but consider this

* at the moment, it is extremely easy to make, and sell for money, legals
CDs (Warner Bros does this)

* at the moment, it is extremely easy to make, and illegally sell for
money, illegal CDs (Chinese people unknown to me do this)

* the illegal bit does not happen >at all< in the US but happens
extensively in China.

* there are no technological differences, only social and legal ones

And then ..

* at the moment, it is extremely easy to make, and sell for money, legal
digital versions of music over the internet
(http://www.bmgmusicservice.com) {I Hate Earthweb, BTW, but thats another
story <: } .. although this is in its infancy, of course.

* at the moment, it is extremely easy to illegally rip-off, and sell for
money, illegal digital versions of music over the internet
(http://www.taylor.org/how-easy/natanthem.aiff) .. although this is in
its infancy, of course.

In example A up above, legal and social mores (or if you prefer 'the
influence of big corporations', whatever ..) dominate over tech
possibilities. So perhaps same will happen as Example B rolls around.

-j

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