Ideally, for informational-goods, we first find out (somewhat) what people want, take payment, make the product, then release it for free use and copying. The

Ideally, for informational-goods, we first find out (somewhat) what people want, take payment, make the product, then release it for free use and copying. The economic problem here is fundamentally one of information and cooperation. As far as we know what we want we should share the cost of producing it (i.e. production should be of what is known to be wanted, and cooperation should be on shared goals). And where we do not know (e.g. the future) we should not prevent unpredicted gains from what has been produced (i.e. by charging for copies). The practical problem is how to get information and how to promote cooperation -- this is where possible arrangements can vary. But the core theoretical structure is that our production should follow from information, and our consumption should not be hostage to lack of information -- this is what all arrangements should try to achieve.