blog #12

There are many similarities, and connections between Lessig (225-252) and the documentery RIP. On page 226, Lessig discusses how artists participating in a sharing economy make sure to distinguish themselves as "sharers". They post free digital downloads, create works on their own terms and conditions, without record label and corporate interference, and, cater to a different audience (the technologically savvy youth). This example of sharers wanting to be seen as sharers is also seen in RIP. Radiohead (the band) released a cd to the web for free download, which prompted people to remix their own work with radioheads songs and videos. They were participating in a sharing culture and made a place for them selfs within it just through advertising.

Another point Lessig makes relates to the power and control the corporations have over intellectual property. Lessig says they maximize the controls they have, including intelectual property itself (228). This reaches all they way to WB owning the rights to one of the most well known songs in the world, Happy Birthday (RIP). The fact that this song is illegal to sing in a public or private place is completely insane. This example alone shows how far reaching copywrite laws are, and how restricting they can be.

Lessig also goes on to questions if sites like youtube "ride" on your work for free, or if you "ride" youtube for free (235). This idea made me think alot about how people generally dont realize the implications of interacting with specific texts. This is usually because they are blinded by the "free" services they are receiving. In relation to RIP, and the artists that girltalk incorporates in his remixes ... are the artists getting more play time and familiarity with fans or is girl talk receiving payment through the use of their material? it is similar to the question, which came first the chicken or the egg? who is profiting the chicken or the egg?

Blog #11

Commercial economy is defined as an exchange in terms of price (118), while a sharing economy is defined in terms of the value of an object or service compared to another, in a sharing economy goods are traded for their value not their monetary value. These two different economies are how we are trained to deal with the dispersion and exchange of goods and services. We swap one for the other in a sharing economy while we swap one for a dollar amount in a commercial economy. A good example, an everyday one at that is the basic exchange you make at a grocery store, you choose a box of cereal and then you trade it for a few dollars. An example of a sharing economy is wikipedia, you search their data base for information useful to you, and in exchange you contribute new information (156).

The distinction and difference between commercial and sharing economies matters to Lessig's main argument because he want to show the readers that both economies matter to one another, one cannot exist without the other, they provide each other checks and balances. Similar to RO and RW cultures discussed in earlier. Once there is a complete understanding of the two economies and how they function, then we can see how prosperous they can be to business success online.