"It's grim,
most grim it's been since I've been around business."This is David Geffen, famous music mogul, talking about music business today.
Why is it so bad? Many reasons are offered, but to me, most important is response of music industry to Web. They didn't like Napster that enabled music lovers to swap files. Instead of trying to find out more about Web, they did what came naturally: they sued. They did not realize and still do not realize that anytime they get rid of a Napster 10 or more clones will pop up to replace it.
A slew of companies is working on what is euphemistically called "digital rights management". They want to limit access to information products - books, software, music - to an extent greater than could have been done before advent of Internet. They want to prevent file sharing. They want to reduce "fair use." Web consumers will not put up with this.
These companies believe that keeping things closed - boxed, copyrighted, encrypted - will give them a competitive advantage. They are using competitive thinking: Me against you. I win, you lose. Don't get in my way or you will be destroyed. Win markets by capturing customers.
This is old-fashioned thinking. The Web has changed our lives drastically. The Web encourages sharing. It encourages working together. It encourages cooperation. It encourages openness.
The Web is an open medium. Here are 4 examples of openness:
1 - OPEN SOURCE - Linus Torvalds wrote a nucleus for an operating system and gave away original code (source code) for free. He invited programmers to use, adapt, distribute, or improve it, all for free. Pretty soon, thousands of programmers all over world were working together for free to produce an excellent LINUX operating system. LINUX now competes with Microsoft's closed (copyrighted) operating system. In addition to LINUX, you can find a long list of free software at GNU PROJECT (http://www.gnu.org).
2 - OPEN DIRECTORY - There is one directory that is different from all others. Originally, it was called YOOHOO, a variation from YAHOO! Anybody may enter his website in this directory for no fee. Several volunteers, each knowledgeable in a different subject, edit entries and do indexing. The directory is now called DMOZ or Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.com).
