iwakar
crush the fences
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- May 2, 2007
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SILICON VALLEY AND THE NEW FEUDALISM: WHY THE 'INTERNET OF THINGS' MARKS A RETURN TO THE MIDDLE AGES
I remember this same argument being made by the RIAA and its defenders during the file-sharing/copyright hullaballoo of the late 1990s to early 2010s regarding music piracy, which was rampant on Napster, KaZaA, LimeWire etc. as a response to the defenses of "but I bought the record/album/cassette tape/CD, why can't I share it?" etc. Few, if any anticipated it being applied now in this new context.
So my question is: do we, and should we, really only view our hardware as transportation for the software? Is my Samsung Galaxy just a husk for Android OS and my apps? If there's an argument against this position, what would it be?
A person may purchase a nice-looking box full of electronics that can function as a smartphone, the corporate argument goes, but they buy a license only to use the software inside. The companies say they still own the software, and because they own it, they can control it. It’s as if a car dealer sold a car, but claimed ownership of the motor.
I remember this same argument being made by the RIAA and its defenders during the file-sharing/copyright hullaballoo of the late 1990s to early 2010s regarding music piracy, which was rampant on Napster, KaZaA, LimeWire etc. as a response to the defenses of "but I bought the record/album/cassette tape/CD, why can't I share it?" etc. Few, if any anticipated it being applied now in this new context.
In this 21st-century version, companies are using intellectual property law—intended to protect ideas—to control physical objects consumers think they own.
Recent years have seen progress in reclaiming ownership from would-be digital barons. What is important is that we recognize and reject what these companies are trying to do, buy accordingly, vigorously exercise our rights to use, repair and modify our smart property, and support efforts to strengthen those rights. The idea of property is still powerful in our cultural imagination, and it won’t die easily.
So my question is: do we, and should we, really only view our hardware as transportation for the software? Is my Samsung Galaxy just a husk for Android OS and my apps? If there's an argument against this position, what would it be?