Comments on: Download Decade http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/ publishing, technology, media, philosophy, a bit of politics. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:02:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hugh http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/comment-page-1/#comment-8343 Hugh Wed, 20 May 2009 18:32:46 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/#comment-8343 Yes would be nice if media producers gave us the choice, and made it easy for us to pay for their goods in formats we want them in. Yes would be nice if media producers gave us the choice, and made it easy for us to pay for their goods in formats we want them in.

]]> By: Pay nothing and sell out « Laurence Miall http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/comment-page-1/#comment-8342 Pay nothing and sell out « Laurence Miall Wed, 20 May 2009 14:42:48 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/#comment-8342 [...] I can’t get the issue of free culture out of my head. I recently responded to Hugh McGuire’s blog post here about books having to follow the model of music and accepting free distribution as a reality. As I [...] [...] I can’t get the issue of free culture out of my head. I recently responded to Hugh McGuire’s blog post here about books having to follow the model of music and accepting free distribution as a reality. As I [...]

]]> By: Laurence miall http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/comment-page-1/#comment-8341 Laurence miall Wed, 20 May 2009 13:54:58 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/#comment-8341 I am still not convinced of the supposed sea-change in media distribution tending towards everything for free (!) Rupert Murdoch recently speculated that myspace and his other media ventures might soon have to charge. Not surprisingly, the ruthless tycoon doesn't see much future in providing a service that costs millions to make without bringing in revenue from the user. As much as it pains me to say it, wherever Murdoch goes, probably a good number of others will follow. There are two things that seldom go addressed in this issue, I feel. One: how do cultural artifacts get made when nobody is willing to pay for them? And two: do we have to accept the idea of a free use, advertising-revenue driven model? I think that's highly problematic. Depending on the media, I would rather pay for a service than get it for free and have to put up with advertising. The current complacency in the face of relentless advertising is vaguely disturbing. Even on my favourite free sites, such as The Guardian (which is also openly musing about charging fees) I would much rather subscribe at $10-$40 /year instead of being advertised to. I think there is more integrity in paying for something that you clearly value rather than NOT paying and passively accepting the relentless drone of commercial imagery. I am still not convinced of the supposed sea-change in media distribution tending towards everything for free (!) Rupert Murdoch recently speculated that myspace and his other media ventures might soon have to charge. Not surprisingly, the ruthless tycoon doesn’t see much future in providing a service that costs millions to make without bringing in revenue from the user. As much as it pains me to say it, wherever Murdoch goes, probably a good number of others will follow.

There are two things that seldom go addressed in this issue, I feel. One: how do cultural artifacts get made when nobody is willing to pay for them? And two: do we have to accept the idea of a free use, advertising-revenue driven model? I think that’s highly problematic. Depending on the media, I would rather pay for a service than get it for free and have to put up with advertising. The current complacency in the face of relentless advertising is vaguely disturbing. Even on my favourite free sites, such as The Guardian (which is also openly musing about charging fees) I would much rather subscribe at $10-$40 /year instead of being advertised to. I think there is more integrity in paying for something that you clearly value rather than NOT paying and passively accepting the relentless drone of commercial imagery.

]]> By: Hugh http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/comment-page-1/#comment-8331 Hugh Sun, 17 May 2009 13:21:39 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/#comment-8331 thanks steph ... thanks ... followed your twitter link ;-) thanks steph … thanks … followed your twitter link ;-)

]]> By: Stephane Daury http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/comment-page-1/#comment-8323 Stephane Daury Thu, 14 May 2009 22:01:50 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2009/05/14/download-decade/#comment-8323 You'll probably be interested in this slashdot thread: "What Can I Do About Book Pirates?": http://tinyurl.com/rczudc You’ll probably be interested in this slashdot thread:
“What Can I Do About Book Pirates?”: http://tinyurl.com/rczudc

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