I Like Free Stuff

So today in my Intro to Communications and Media class, we talked about copyright laws and watched a video detailing the downfalls of current copyright laws and the threat of a new copyright bill similar to an extremely strict one already in place in the United States.  As a creative artist, I, of course, see the importance of having copyright laws in place so that you are properly credited for your work.  However, as a consumer, I agree that some copyright laws are completely stupid and that, in part, copyright laws have led to the block of individual ingenuity and the abuse of consumers’ time and money 

I read an article on the CTV.ca about how the key to online success is to give away your creative and intellectual property for free.  People like to get free stuff.  It serves as great advertising.  Once people are lured in by the free stuff, then they might actually pay for product.  An example was given in the article.  

"Free" begins with an example from the British comedy troupe Monty Python. Last year, the surviving members launched their own channel on YouTube. It was a reaction to unauthorized clips of their work appearing on the popular video website.

The Monty Python channel provided high-quality versions of the group's skits, viewable for free. In exchange, the comedians asked viewers to buy their DVDs, movies and TV shows "to soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years," they quipped.

The result? On Amazon.com, sales of Monty Python DVDs rose 23,000 per cent over the next three months.

 Even if you give away most of your property, the money that you make from the property that you sell can be substantial because of the traffic generated from people wanting free stuff.  Also, as is well discovered, advertising can make you a lot of money when placed in the right traffic stream.  (Microsoft, you don't have the monopoly anymore.  Change your methods of overcharging for things in an age where super-successful Google is giving away their intellectual property for FREE!)

Quote of the day:

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

   -Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)-

Word of the day: punctilious:

\puhnk-TIL-ee-uhs\ , adjective:

1. Strictly attentive to the details of form in action or conduct; precise; exact in the smallest particulars.