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The Chilling Effects Of The Entertainment Industry's Grokster Position
from the hopefully-the-court-gets-this-one-right dept
With so much talk about the Grokster case, which is just hours from getting under way, Professor Ed Felten (who knows a thing or two about the chilling effects of the entertainment industry when it comes to technology) has posted a story about another professor who is keeping the details of his research secret, despite the potential for widespread usage. The professor in question is worried that some may figure out how to use it for illegal purposes, and if the Grokster decision goes the wrong way, he could be liable for it. He doesn't want to spend his time retrofitting what he's built to prevent all possible illegal uses, and thus, the world suffers because most of us won't get to use what he's working on, no matter how useful it really is. That's the kind of world we'll live in if the Supreme Court favors the entertainment industry. The innovations will remain secret or underground -- which means they'll barely develop at all. Real innovations grow on top of each other, so the more people use something the more they can innovate on top of it. Without the ability to even release such applications, innovation is stifled. Of course, innovation will move elsewhere, such as Eastern Europe and Asia -- which isn't exactly what the US economy needs right now.
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Another professor?
"A young computer scientist" doesn't equal "a professor". IMHO anyway.
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Re: Another professor?
s/equal/equate with/
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Does the US economy want Eastern Europe and Asia?
In both places, counterfeits are rampant. They are, by and large, inferior quality products -- shoes that fall apart in a few days, perfumes that stink, copycat music with funny English lyrics full of grammatical errors. You can pay a fortune to buy the "real thing", but still get tricked and end up with a fake. Computers have funny software that is easily infected by viruses, have fatal flaws that can suddenly destroy all your data. Laptops, cell phones have batteries that heat and explode hot acid all over your face. Is this a "free market" that Americans want?
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Re: Does the US economy want Eastern Europe and As
Give me a break.. I have purchased lots of items not made in the US. In fact, it is hard to purchase a product made in the US anymore. Never have I had one blow up. Never have I heard strange lyrics on a bootleg copy of a song. Get real..
The US is getting what it appears to want. It is rapidly approaching implosion. Another trillion dollar deficit budget that does nothing but up the income of the rich .2 percent while cutting services for the rest. Hmm I appear to digress.
Sorry, Until americans realize they are in a race to the bottom (which they are rapidly starting to win) your diatribe against all things foreign is just that.
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