An excellent presentation on the read/write age of protected media and the subsequent restriction of creativity. There is a constant struggle between the law, the users voice, and ownership (whether that be corporate or individual ownership). By allowing, or even fostering these mashups/creative re-interpretations would the quality and perspective change. Would ownership become co-ownership and is that fundamentally bad?

I really liked the approach that radiohead took on their latest album. Offering the user the ability to download their album and pay what the user felt was appropriate. This seems to be a much more honest and shared sense of ownership. Also when Trent Reznor allowed the download of one of Nine Inch Nails songs to garage band with seperated tracks, it allowed the user to play with appreciate and share in creating something with the band. These are obviously only two examples that are centered around music.

The interesting thing will be when a major company, brand or entertainment broadcaster opens their content up. Can you imagine Fox offering up the unedited footage to movies for users to make their own movies. No more seeing things solely through a proprietor or director. Would broadcasters become the library rather than the dictators, with a giant sign on the door “take what you like, make what you like, just make it with our stuff, AND MAKE IT GOOD”

In general it seems like basic capitalist idea of ownership is not going to change without some type of overthrow. Ideas, products, code, etc. so it’s pretty much a revolutionary cause from the outset, because it spreads to so many things, the powers that be will protect it with their lives.

Viva la revolution anyone?

We have to recognize the difference between us and the youthful digital generation. We made “mixed tapes” they remix music. We “watched” tv they “make” tv. It is technology that has made them different. as we see what this technology can do. We need to recognize that we cannot kill the instinct the technology produces we can only criminalize it. We can’t stop our kids from using it, we can only drive it underground. We can’t make our kids passive again, we can only make them pirates. And is that good?