[LAU] ASCAP Assails Free-Culture, Digital-Rights Groups

[James Warden]

> > but a more fundamental reason: that's how nature works
> to evolve. Copying is just one way, and it used to be the
> main way of reproducing in the past. With the advent of
> sexual reprod. things got a bit more fancy and evolution
> took a new turn. I venture that copying computer bits that
> provide meaningful information is just another instantiation
> of the same old process. Later on, that copying process may
> well evolve to a form equivalent to the sexual reprod. and
> more diversity will emerge from the process.
> > 
> >    
> 
> Mashups ?
> 

yes, could be participating in this next stage of information diversification, spreading, and even creation (1 + 1 > 2). Not that I subscribe to the Gaia concept, but it feels like we are active "neurons" and "neurotransmitters" of an evolving "superbrain". We are still very far from full development as we  feel or are disconnected from the rest of our environment. But even that stage of separation was probably necessary so we could develop our specific human features to interesting levels. When we bring this back to the rest (provided that we don't destroy ourselves in the process), this "superbrain" (or consciousness ?) will move on to some further stage. 

All we are doing now (artistic activities, economic exchanges, etc) are just natural processes within a larger dynamic design. Whatever it takes to interact, even if we argue or screw each other, the idea is that this brings new complexity levels via expanding networks (of any kind) that add up in this ever evolving design. Just like a brain: first new neurons are created then interactions and bridges between them are intensifying and getting more and more complex.


> > The Disney vs Stravinsky bit made me laugh: so it is
> American and capitalist to explicitly exploit regulation
> loopholes in order to steal the work of other people ? 
> My! I would have never guessed ... :lol:
> > 
> >    
> 
> I'm not trying to imply that it is explicitly an American
> construct but simply that it is something that American
> business practice encourages. Other nations have the same
> modus operandi. Most of them are well represented in
> American society and cultural heritage so it is not a
> surprise that American business practice accepts and
> encourages the use of this method of making money ;-)
> 

I was just laughing a bit about it. I don't think it is specifically American to operate in this way ;)

J.