A very interesting article in the NY Times brought to light an amazing change of heart by Jaron Lanier, who in the 1990s was one of the main proponents, and enthusiastic visionary, of the "everything-is-free" Internet.
His recently published book "You Are Not a Gadget" evidences serious second thoughts, and raises the flags against "hive thinking" and a "digital Maoism" which demands from each according to his ability, and to each according to their needs.
Being himself an artist who is apparently having trouble generating online revenue from his creative efforts--due to the current "open culture" were "information wants to be free"--he laments the fact that getting your due as a creative artist is almost frowned upon today. "Reciprocity takes the form of self-promotion," he writes.
As a writer myself, I not only sympathize, but agree. I have posted nearly a hundred works on Scribd, including poems, stories, novels, and songs. Most of these are free, but ask for a voluntary contribution if the reader/listener feels like it (I list my PayPal account).
In the last nine or so months these works have been viewed by nearly 30,000 people. Guess how many have offered an exchange? Yes, you guess it: Zero.
I strongly believe that the Internet can (and should) allow creative writers and musicians to live on their efforts, but it seems nearly impossible in today's climate.
However, Mr. Lanier (who you can see interviewed in this short YouTube segment brings up the great (and not in the least new) concept of MicroPayments as a solution to this.
The problem with current payment systems is, of course, that a credit card company, or PayPal, does not want to see $0.05 payments--they'll lose money processing it. Yet, if each reader of my works on Scribed had paid me $0.05 (which possibly they would have), I would have seen a $1,500 exchange today. Not that I could live on this, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
Microsoft was reputed to have worked on a MicroPayments System in 2007, but not much has been heard since.
If implemented correctly, viewing an artist's work would incur very small fees, in the cents region, and would not set the viewer back by much. It would be quite affordable, while at the same time remunerate the artist.
I will do some more research in this area and report back. I think it is an idea that has great merit.
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