Re: Napster, Planned Obsolescence & Control

[David Goodman <dgoodman@Princeton.EDU>]

Rick, why are you and I writing these messages? I can only speak for
myself, but I am not paid for them, already have our equivalent of tenure,
and if I am promoted it will be because of whatever administrative skills
I may possess, not what I may write here or elsewere.


David Goodman
Biology Librarian, and
Co-Chair, Electronic Journals Task Force
Princeton University Library
dgoodman@princeton.edu         http://www.princeton.edu/~biolib/
phone: 609-258-3235            fax: 609-258-2627

----------------------

Rick Anderson wrote:

> On Sun,  4 Jun 2000 15:33:29 EDT David Goodman
> <dgoodman@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> wrote:
> 
> > Another way is to drastically lower the cost of production enough to
> > permit free distribution.
> 
> The problem is that, since information does not spring into existence
> spontaneously, there needs to be some way to make it worth an author's
> effort to produce information.  We can streamline distribution all we
> want, but nothing we can do to the infrastructure of information
> distribution will make it easier to write a novel or a song.  I can
> promise you that E.L. Doctorow won't write another novel unless he can get
> paid for it.  Without control of the content, I don't see how he can get
> paid.  It may well be true that control of info is no longer possible; if
> so, that may be the end of many types of high quality information.  If the
> only people who can afford to write novels are those with day jobs and
> lots of spare time...
> 
> --------
> Rick Anderson
> Head Acquisitions Librarian
> Jackson Library
> UNC Greensboro
> (336) 334-5281
> rick_anderson@uncg.edu