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That's what I don't grasp about this situation. Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? Just figure out a new busin

That's what I don't grasp about this situation. Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? Just figure out a new business model. They've had well over a decade and a half to throw enough heads at the problem to figure out how to prevent further decline in their revenues. But it just seems they're as stubborn (if not more so) as an ox when it comes to accepting reality.

seiji 11y ago
Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? When you are a 60-70 year old media executive (or a shady cabal of dozens of them, each reinforcing their own viewpoints—sound familiar?) and your life has been money and success and everybody bowing down to you, why wouldn't you fight to keep it? They aren't in a business of generosity, they are in a business of taking your money.
afarrell 11y ago
To be fair, few software product companies have committed to do the equivalent thing: releasing all of their code as open source with instructions that make it possible for an average person to spin up an instance of the product with the push of a button.
- afarrell 11y ago
  If you are going to say that my comment adds nothing to the conversation, I would appreciate it if you would make an argument for why we should allow software engineers (and designers, DevOps, Admins, marketers, CEOs, etc...) to make money off copyrighting their work and claiming things as intelectual "property", but not allow musicians (and recording engineers, marketers, distributors...) to do the same? Why are software engineers able to make money without constantly flying from conference to conference away from their families?
  - kuschku 11y ago
    You do realize that Copyright does not apply for business logic or algorithms, so anyone can just copy those, too?
jamestnz 11y ago
>Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? Entrenched incumbents rarely can. And, economically speaking, if they reckon they'll be able to extract more longevity/revenue/advantage this way (lobbying to manipulate the playing-field in their favour, as opposed to coming up with innovations that would enable the business to adapt and thrive) -- then I guess that's the "rational" thing to do :)
ddingus 11y ago
It's about control and the very long game. Think about it. Disney got started with works from the Brothers Grimm. Copyright terms were short then. Once Disney became an empire, they very quickly realized somebody else could compete with them. So they worked to extend copyright, and it's pretty much going to continue that way, keeping Mickey just out of the Public Domain. Disney knows another Disney is bad for business, unless they own that Disney. And there is where the control comes into play. The people with empires today realize they can become extinct tomorrow. All it takes is a little competition and the barrier for entry has never been lower. People can put things out there and get a lot of attention and distribute for almost nothing compared to what it took to build the empires we see today. If they get this, then they won't have to deal with competetors. It's going to be hard to do anything really, because the criminal risks associated with doing things with open tools and data will turn people toward, "safe" and "approved" means and methods. Those will just happen to align with approved distribution, meaning they get a cut, and or ownership ideally. Given this perspective, reality is what they say it is. Has nothing at all to do with the tech and it's impact on the business model.

seiji 11y ago

Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? When you are a 60-70 year old media executive (or a shady cabal of dozens of them, each reinforcing their own viewpoints—sound familiar?) and your life has been money and success and everybody bowing down to you, why wouldn't you fight to keep it? They aren't in a business of generosity, they are in a business of taking your money.

afarrell 11y ago

To be fair, few software product companies have committed to do the equivalent thing: releasing all of their code as open source with instructions that make it possible for an average person to spin up an instance of the product with the push of a button.

afarrell 11y ago
If you are going to say that my comment adds nothing to the conversation, I would appreciate it if you would make an argument for why we should allow software engineers (and designers, DevOps, Admins, marketers, CEOs, etc...) to make money off copyrighting their work and claiming things as intelectual "property", but not allow musicians (and recording engineers, marketers, distributors...) to do the same? Why are software engineers able to make money without constantly flying from conference to conference away from their families?
- kuschku 11y ago
  You do realize that Copyright does not apply for business logic or algorithms, so anyone can just copy those, too?

jamestnz 11y ago

>Why can't content industries just accept that the gravy train of yesteryear is over? Entrenched incumbents rarely can. And, economically speaking, if they reckon they'll be able to extract more longevity/revenue/advantage this way (lobbying to manipulate the playing-field in their favour, as opposed to coming up with innovations that would enable the business to adapt and thrive) -- then I guess that's the "rational" thing to do :)

ddingus 11y ago

It's about control and the very long game. Think about it. Disney got started with works from the Brothers Grimm. Copyright terms were short then. Once Disney became an empire, they very quickly realized somebody else could compete with them. So they worked to extend copyright, and it's pretty much going to continue that way, keeping Mickey just out of the Public Domain. Disney knows another Disney is bad for business, unless they own that Disney. And there is where the control comes into play. The people with empires today realize they can become extinct tomorrow. All it takes is a little competition and the barrier for entry has never been lower. People can put things out there and get a lot of attention and distribute for almost nothing compared to what it took to build the empires we see today. If they get this, then they won't have to deal with competetors. It's going to be hard to do anything really, because the criminal risks associated with doing things with open tools and data will turn people toward, "safe" and "approved" means and methods. Those will just happen to align with approved distribution, meaning they get a cut, and or ownership ideally. Given this perspective, reality is what they say it is. Has nothing at all to do with the tech and it's impact on the business model.