Brian W. Carver -- Share Alike

Why Technology Law Matters

Here's the point: New technologies can enable a breakthrough in the reach of information. Example: the printing press. Prior to Gutenberg's printing press, the average person simply had no access to books or to the accumulated knowledge of the world. By creating a technology that made distribution of that information faster and cheaper an enormous benefit accrued to the public. Information was within the reach of the average person because we got cheap books, public libraries, etc. We also created new businesses such as the publishing industry, the printing press manufacturing industry, the printing press repair industry, etc. This creates jobs such as "printing press operator' which also benefits the public. Old industries and jobs fade away or transform themselves though, as the need for hand-copiers of books diminishes. Those who continue to work in such an area must distinguish themselves by offering a value-added service, such as more elaborately detailed renderings of books, or finer inks, etc. No one seriously thinks any loss suffered by the old book-copiers outweighs the enormous benefits that have accrued to humankind as a result of this technological breakthrough and information sharing expansion.

Fast forward to the present: New technologies continue to enable breakthroughs in the reach of information. Examples abound. But this time the industries that would fade away or would need to transform themselves are far more powerful than any book copier ever was. They seek to stifle innovation and keep their current profits secure. They have no interest in transforming themselves to distinguish their product offerings by offering value-added services. Instead they use their legal might to outlaw their competition.

Sometimes it's hard to get up in arms about the technology issues of today, especially in light of the suffering of Iraqi children or some other such tragedy that certainly deserves our attention. But, if we think about these issues carefully, we will see that as much or more is at stake. Imagine a world where the book-copiers guild was extremely powerful and they were able to outlaw the printing press. The devastating effect on the entire course of human history is unfathomable. We live in such a time, where the powers that be seek to stifle technological innovation for their own monetary gain. This is a dangerous path. We must alert people to those dangers.