« phosita ::: quick links for 2005-04-07 | Main | Grokster Transcript »

April 07, 2005

History of the Technology/Copyright Clash

The Grokster case is the most recent example of the clash between technology and copyright owners. However, the underlying issue certainly isn't new.

File-Sharing Is the Latest Battleground in the Clash of Technology and Copyright explores the long history of the struggles between copyright owners and the newest and best way to passively entertain ourselves. Copyright owners have protested the sharing of music for at least a century now. The article mentions player pianos as a new technology that pushed copyright law to the edge.

The article also talks about how the copyright owners can profit handsomely if they pick the proper price point and embrace the new technology.

The whole issue reminds me of a quote from my moot court partner in law school. When arguing for the advancement of technology, even at the expense of established industry, he stated "we didn't stop cars from being produced in order to protect the buggy whip industry."

Posted by Melody Wirz at 05:40 PM.
Permalink: History of the Technology/Copyright Clash
| Sphere: Related Content