Entertainmentbizz Music & media on a social level

Applaude and regret…a short note

By Dave Klop - EntertainmentBizz

Networks are stronger than hierarchie
I believe that this saying in the businessworld has proven itself again in the SOPA story. This is an era where the civilian has the "power" to actually move the chosen legislators to really do what they've said/promised in their political programs.
Through social networks/blogs, civilians with the same goal/opinion gather more easily and quicker and formulate their message to the rest of the public. In cases where the exploitation model of the network/blog itself would be a point of discussion, the networks are able to organize/win over their members to support them in their "fight". Very often those networks (read companies) talk about "the right/freedom of sharing" as their goal. Social Networks could actually be seen as new (undercover)legislators.

Infringe/copy their IP and watch
What is not made very visible is that networks themselves have a big stake in that "share traffic" as they earn big bucks through ad messages around this. The picture that the networks paint off "rightholders" as corporations who just want to cash everything is actually kind of a selfportrait.
For example, try to start url's like (ex.) "f-acebook" or "linkingin", or copy a random product and sell it cheaper etc. and see how quickly you get a (legal)request to stop your exploitation.

Internet-self regulating
I think that this only works when it is clear what the "playing field" is. Everyone who wants to change the current rules has an certain interest. Important is to check whether that interest is in fact the best option for everyone or that it just purely is for their own advantage in the end.

Bottomline
Content Owners; please embrace new initiatives and license the damn models!
Users/Facilitators; please start paying for usage/sharing/ownership of copyrighted content!