IP: Re: WHEN people can easily copy anything digital, who's going to make $100 million movies?

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> From: Russell Nelson <nelson () crynwr com>
> Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 09:55:53 -0400 (EDT)
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> Cc: DGillmor () sjmercury com



>  > >From: "Gillmor, Dan" <DGillmor () sjmercury com>
>  > >To: "'farber () cis upenn edu'" <farber () cis upenn edu>
>  > >
>  > >http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/columns/gillmor/docs/dg061100.htm
>  > >
>  > >WHEN people can easily copy anything digital, who's going to make $100
>  > >million movies?
>
> The same people as now, only they'll be paid for them in advance,
> based on the quality of the previous film, and their proposal for
> their new film.  If you think this is a ridiculous notion, ask
> yourself the question "Who would go see the premiere of a $100 million
> movie?".  Reputation matters now; it will matter more in the future.
> Is there any doubt that JK Rowling's fourth Harry Potter book will be
> worth buying?  Even with copyright law, people are pre-paying for it.
>
> People will have to pitch their new movie to consumers in the same way
> they do now -- by making a short, by showing storyboards.  In essence,
> consumers will become investors, except that the return on their
> investment will be the ability to enjoy the movie.
>
> This has always been possible, but it hasn't been necessary.  Digital
> content and high bandwidth have made it necessary.  Pre-subscription
> has a public goods problem: though some might not pay, all enjoy.
> Bruce Schneier has proposed an algorithm called Street Performer to
> address that problem.
>
> http://www.counterpane.com/street_performer.html
>
> --
> -russ nelson <sig () russnelson com>  http://russnelson.com
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