The Age of Free Information
"While the Internet may never include every CPU on the planet, it is more than doubling every year and can be expected to become the principal medium of information conveyance, and perhaps eventually, the only one." (Barlow, 2).
While I disagree that computers and the internet could eventually become the only medium over which information is conveyed, the fact that computer and internet usage is doubling on a yearly basis is enough to cause some confusion when it comes to intellectual property, and thus a call for change. In all honesty, I do not want to see changes; I do not want to see "free" music disappear. Piracy of intellectual property such as music and pictures is not the only call for change, though. If I create a website using my own design, it is protected according to the rule that any intellectual property that I create is automatically protected. However, all someone would need to do is open the source code page in their web browser, and copy and paste it somewhere onto their own computer for use in their own website. If this were to happen (and it does, often I'm sure) it would be difficult to ever know, let alone to find the new website that is a rip of my own. Unless there are changes in how online intellectual property is dealt with, I cannot see the internet becoming the information medium (unless of course all information is free).
As far as collaborative intellectual property such as Wikipedia, I believe that when you agree to take part in such a project, you are acknowledging that the only credit you will receive is some notice, and not of your real name but instead of your username. The idea of Wikipedia would be congruent to the principal medium shifting to the internet, with the pursuit of free information.
Comments
Do you suppose that if people were somehow paid according to the quality of their Wikipedia posts, it would become a more reliable source? Or do people who are motivated by altruism/wanting to share their expertise generally contribute more accurate material?
Posted by: e_rose | April 5, 2007 08:06 PM
I agree that the internet probably won't ever become the ONLY information medium. But I think a change in the copyright laws would do more to increase the ease (if that's even possible) of downloading music rather than making it disappear. I'm sure in the legal avenues it won't be free anymore, but it was never really free in the first place, just made available for theft, really. But I think that even if it's not free anymore, changes in copyright laws will allow for more free distribution of music and free people from worrying about the RIAA running down their doors with lawsuits, which in my opinion is even better.
Posted by: tcarr | April 7, 2007 02:16 PM