This is the time of the year many bloggers offer a grand view of some time – what just happened or what is to come. I don’t feel I have anything of great merit to contribute, but I did read one of these end of year posts that I found thoughtful and said some things people need to hear. Here is a ReadWriteWeb post explaining that 2011 was the year the “free ride ended.” The post argues that it is time people realize they cannot expect tech for free – the companies and individuals that provide the services and content need to make a reasonable income. I agree.
I tend to think of the tech world as a hierarchy of services. All of the levels of this hierarchy can cost. What seems strange to me are the “open content” advocates – especially those who argue against copyright. I think it is great when someone offers open source content or software. However, no one should feel this is an obligation (provider) or right (consumer). What I think should be the focus of greater concern are those who provide access – the phone and cable companies. Why so many focus on copyright and so few focus on cost effective access options is beyond my understanding. I believe in competition as a control mechanism. Content costs should be controlled through competition, not by attempting to justify theft. We need some competition when it comes to access.