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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