Online piracy driven by greed

This is according to Nathaniel Borenstein, developer of the Andrew Messaging System, co-creator of the MIME standard used all over the web, creator of First Virtual Holdings and now chief scientist at Mimecast. Borenstein recounted that in order to talk about the issue of ethics in digital content distribution one has to come back to first guidelines, which is that possession is a mirage we create with our laws and customs. We are entering the digital time with the idea the constructs of possession of the real world should apply to the electronic world and there is no reason why it should, said Borenstein. Borenstein declared that even using the word "ethics" already simplifies the issue too much. It might help if folk could discriminate between elemental ethics and liquid ethics, he announced. He highlighted 3 specific kinds of possession that must be handled differently : Peoples's bodies, physical property, and intellectual property. The most significant difference between digital and the physical is that digital content can be copied simply without having an effect on the original, declared Borenstein. Nathaniel Borenstein - Chief Scientist, MimecastBorenstein declared that during his time with First Virtual Holdings ( 1994-2001 ) they developed a model for info commerce which he describes as a "high-ethics consumer-friendly model." against this, the digital content environment is surprisingly patron disagreeable right now, Bornstein claimed. They made use of a try-before-you-buy model which authorized patrons to substantiate themselves and try out something and then pay for it if it is what they wanted. Users replied postively to the model, Bornstein declared, but the content industry answered pretty adversely. According to Borenstein the model is analogous to having the ability to return a product if you were discontented with it for who knows what reason, just in a digital context were you can't basically return something.

Using music for example Bornstein related that during the past he could have managed to return a CD if he was discontented with the standard of the content. "With the digital stuff I don't have any recourse," he claimed. Borenstein recounted that payment for digital content should be optional, if not voluntary. "Will some individuals cheat? Yes," related Borenstein, but he suspects this may be addressed with a name system. The idea is if you ceaselessly use something without coughing up for it your reputation at last brands you as a freeloader and content distributors can opt to not provide access to their products. Borenstein announced that he suspects licensing for such content is the right way to sell it, but the license shouldn't be constrained to a specific format or platform and may be for life. If you happen to have a decent price and licensing model, the gigantic majoroity of folk will get it, asserted Borenstein.