Conundrum #3

Hello Kitty link of the day: a Hello Kitty Xbox

GeekPress linked this WSJ opinion piece on filesharing. Conundrum #3 is the eternal question: “How is it that millions of Americans who wouldn’t cross the street against a red light will sleep like lambs after downloading onto their computers a Library of Alexandria’s worth of music or movies–for free”?

The simple answer is that information wants to be free. It’s not easy to foist a new definition of property on people after five thousand years of civilization in which all property has been physical and nearly all information free. Information might settle for being cheap (e.g., 99 cents at the iTunes Store), but I don’t think the information-pushing corporations have much a chance against piracy as long as they’re selling $100 DVD sets and eBooks that cost more than a paper book.

This blog entry should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

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