Voluntary collective licensing is an alternative approach to solve the problem of
software piracy
Online piracy or software piracy is the practice of downloading and distributing copyrighted works digitally without permission, such as music, movies or software.
History
Nathan Fisk traces the origins of modern online piracy back to similar ...
using
file sharing
File sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digital media, such as computer programs, multimedia (audio, images and video), documents or electronic books. Common methods of storage, transmission and dispersion include ...
technologies. The idea is to make file sharing networks subscribe-only for a small fee and then distribute the collected money among the artists based on the popularity of their work. It has been endorsed since 2003 by the
EFF.
Arguably
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
is an implementation of this idea, although it is not marketed as a file-sharing network and also allows ad-supported free use in addition to paid use.
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Supporters of this licensing project
*
Downhill Battle
*
Berkman Center for Internet & Society
The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society is a research center at Harvard University that focuses on the study of cyberspace. Founded at Harvard Law School, the center traditionally focused on internet-related legal issues. On May 15, 2008, ...
also launched ''Digital Media Exchange (DMX)'', a
P2P content service, operated as a non-profit
cooperative
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, coöperative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomy, autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned a ...
which uses the same concept.
Digital Media Project
See also
* Threshold pledge system
The threshold pledge or fund and release system is a way of making a fundraising pledge as a group of individuals, often involving charitable goals or financing the provision of a public good. An amount of money is set as the goal or ''threshol ...
References
External links
Description and white paper at EFF Website
"Building the Tools to Legalize P2P Video-Sharing" by JANKO ROETTGERS, NY Times: May 9, 2009
Copyright licenses
File sharing
Payment systems
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