So I just discovered Reddit’s series of interviews, IAMA. There’s one with Kevin Smith, in which he responds to a question on digital copyright. His response reminds me of the argument forwarded by Lessig years ago in Remix:
Here’s my approach…
I try to give away as much as possible. At SModcast.com, we’ve got thousands of hours of my best work, as well as the funniest shit you’ll ever hear: My true life’s work. And we give it away free.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the First Birthday of S.I.R. – SModCo Internet Radio. http://smodcast.com To celebrate, we’ll be launching S.I.T. on YouTube – SModCo Internet Television. All of it is free.
So when I do present my audience with something that requires payment? I try to make it more special. That’s why I toured with Red State, rather than simply stick the movie out there in theaters alone. Anyone can access any movie digitally once it’s in theaters; I accept that. But they can’t digitally access me unless they’re in the room.
Instead of trying to fight change, I like to adapt and figure out how to thrive in an ever-changing global economy. And as much as I like to head where the puck is going, you sometimes have to play the ball where it lays.
