In “Remix,” one of the claims made is that digital technology has eliminated the restrictions of a read-only culture (RO) just as it has eliminated any boundaries relating to advertising. As Lessing points out, free access is what produces value in today’s digital networks. By limiting access, a network is essentially limiting its value to a user. More and more content providers are beginning to take notice of the relation between free access and the creation of value from their consumers. The ‘value’ mentioned comes from data collected from consumers that use the network which is then used for means of advertising. This explains why many sites like Youtube, Pandora, Hula, etc. have come into the model of free access using read-write (RW) culture, otherwise termed RAM. It appears to be a pretty fair trade for consumers that do not mind providing purchasing information and/or location to listen to their favorite music for free. All of the trading of content and information is made possible by the read-write culture that Lessing mentions.
However, the issue of proper authorization comes up with this kind of cultural-economic model. In recent WSJ news, Federal prosecutors in New Jersey are investigating the legitimacy of the online music service Pandora. Prosecutors are examining whether the Pandora app, found on many smart phones, fully discloses to users what kind of information is being collected and shared about them as well as what the information is used for. Pandora is the first online site under such investigation and I am sure there will be more investigations to follow. Lessing does not draw any conclusions on the RW culture and advertising to the privacy of users; however, it is something that should be considered in a world where RO, RW, and the hybrid of both are changing our culture, economic models, and individual privacy. As an advocate that all three are equally important for a creative society, I am curious of Lessing’s thoughts of the drawbacks.
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