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Transformations of cultural production, free culture and the future of the Internet
Transformations of cultural production, free culture
and the future of the Internet
Tomislav Medak
When producing and remixing comes naturally
As a consequence of technological development over the last two decades two
components in the system of cultural production have transformed their
socio-economic character – the means of cultural production have become widely
accessible and digital networks have made distribution channels for cultural products
ubiquitous. What could formerly be provided only by a large industrial system of
cultural and media production has significantly changed. The digital regime now
breaks away from that system, and what could formerly be provided only by
exclusive exploitation rights is now provided by the community of users and creators,
of consumers and producers, of “prosumers” 1 using the networked production tools
and exchange of cultural goods.
With this massive exodus of consumers from consumption into production and
their re-appropriation of the means of production and exchange, both the industry of
digital tools (which grows strong in this transformation) and the cultural industry
(which grows weak in this transformation) are entering into a structural conflict and
competition with their former consumers over their rights and freedom to access
means of production, to use products and to exchange goods. While the software and
cultural industry is pushing for an ever stronger and draconic protection of
1 “Prosumer” is a portmanteau formed by contracting either the word producer or
professional with the word consumer. The term has taken on multiple conflicting meanings:
the business sector sees the prosumer (professional-consumer) as a market segment,
whereas economists see the prosumer (producer-consumer) as having greater
independence from the mainstream economy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosumer
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