This is the time of the year many bloggers offer a grand view of some time – what just happened or what is to come. I don’t feel I have anything of great merit to contribute, but I did read one of these end of year posts that I found thoughtful and said some things people need to hear. Here is a ReadWriteWeb post explaining that 2011 was the year the “free ride ended.” The post argues that it is time people realize they cannot expect tech for free – the companies and individuals that provide the services and content need to make a reasonable income. I agree.
I tend to think of the tech world as a hierarchy of services. All of the levels of this hierarchy can cost. What seems strange to me are the “open content” advocates – especially those who argue against copyright. I think it is great when someone offers open source content or software. However, no one should feel this is an obligation (provider) or right (consumer). What I think should be the focus of greater concern are those who provide access – the phone and cable companies. Why so many focus on copyright and so few focus on cost effective access options is beyond my understanding. I believe in competition as a control mechanism. Content costs should be controlled through competition, not by attempting to justify theft. We need some competition when it comes to access.
You must be logged in to post a comment.