Lecture Number Two: Publishing and the issue of rights

In light of the lecture, this weeks entry is gonig to maybe a little more formal with all kinds of interesting links an facts - good times i think you'll agree :)

In the lecture the idea of rights, who owns what and how uncertain these two things are in todays digital age really caught my attention. It seems wrong that someone can pay for and download a book to a Kindle and then have their rights to read that book removed. This abilty and the general state of flux the issue of rights seems to be in is arguably a negative impact of technology. This also represents a new power available to publishers allowing them even after selling/distributing the content to have control on it. Although this would seem like a pointless power as if the other processes such as aquiring rights and processing he finished article shouldn't need recalling.

Having said this the internet and digital technologies are also improving publishing. the fact that 10 companies control 70% of publishing is entirely wrong so cases such as that of Robin Sloane (http://robinsloan.com/)are very refreshing! This is a man who funds himself and publishs himslef, destroying the idea of the publishing value chain. To this end I disagree with comments made in the lecture that publishers are still key, Robin Sloane proves that they are not a key requirement. Digital developments will make it easier for people such as Robin Sloane to self publish - whilst this will cause quality concerns due to the lack of input achived by a publisher it will foster a system which encourages stronger and more creative/progressive literary output. This also reduces influence from the big ten publishing companies allowing for a greater amount of opinions and voices to be heard.

The progess in digital technology i believe (based on my 2 whole lectures experience....) will lead to a reverse where publishing will return to something more similar to the 'cottage industry' described by J. Epstein in 'The Rattle of Pebbles'(http://tlrg.bangor.ac.uk/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?inpopup=true&id=1321). The issue of rights will become more important as time goes on, and this is an area I definantly want to look in to in more detail. One way forward has been spelled out by blogger Cory Doctorow is creative commons - already used on music and picture files. This is a system which already works and has the potential to please both corporations and creative indivuals. He also speaks of small monthly charges in return for file sharing in fields such as music. You can read the article here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4112004.stm.

I think this will end the most factual and lengthy blog I've ever written. Random big word: synthesesing - confused me greatly lol. Nos da.