November 15, 2005

If Books Are on Google, Who Gains and Who Loses? - New York Times

The debate rages and it is more ideological than practical. This article summarizes the underlying issues succinctly.

"In part, the ideology of liberation evolved out of libertarian and utopian hacker culture (which also gave birth to recreational piracy). An international counterculture developed around the new technologies sometimes spurred by figures who had also been active in the political counterculture of the 1960's and 70's. That spirit led to advances - like the development of 'open source' software in which programmers have contributed their energies to shared projects. It has also led to well-traveled mantras like 'Information Wants to Be Free' and to arguments more focused on restricting those who attempt to control than those who attempt to copy."

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