Musing about the Freedom Premium

I referred to The Freedom Premium in my last post, covering the recent announcement by EMI and Apple. I’m still thinking things through. There’s a sense of unease about the principle. It may not matter with the EMI digital inventory, but I have this nagging worry.

The problem with the Freedom Premium is simple. The people who need it the most can’t afford it. As I said, it may not matter in this particular instance, but it will matter. When it comes to medical matters it will matter. When it comes to educational matters it will matter. When it comes to independent news sources it will matter.

3 thoughts on “Musing about the Freedom Premium”

  1. Right on!

    When it comes to disability it matters.

    The ‘market’ economy doesn’t care to much for individuals, only consumers. ‘People’ need to care for ‘people’; maybe by using some of the supporting ‘freedom architecture’ and collectively kludging.

    Dave

  2. Couldn’t agree more. We need to spell this out better and more often. How bad DRM destroys value for a number of communities that face disadvantages to begin with.

  3. I think the idea of a freedom premium needs to be thought through more carefully. Do we really want to live in a society where every freedom costs something? Shouldn’t some freedoms be free? If so which ones? Maybe not DRM, but those that really make a persons life meaningful?

Let me know what you think

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