Defenders of IP often ask how creative artists could get paid for their work if anyone were free to copy it. The short answer, of course, is: if imaginative entrepreneurs who stand to make a profit from solving such problems are left free to act, “the market will take care of it.”
Check out the latest promising approach.
That’s a really cool idea.
Interesting idea, and I’m sure it will have its uses, but as a more general solution I prefer some sort of “voluntary IP”.
Hmmm, I’ve got an idea of how to revive the JLS…
A rather new instantiation, already successful for several, is at http://www.kickstarter.com . (I’m getting some crosswords out of the deal, myself.)
As another possibility:
Most webcomic artists who do it professionally or quasi professionally make their money from merchandising.
I would bet that Lucas made more from Star Wars toys than he made from ticket sales.
Interesting. This reminds me a bit of the “ransom” system pioneered by Greg Stolze that I’ve seen used for some indie roleplaying games: An author or designer will propose an idea for a game or supplement, and if people who are interested in the proposal contribute enough to pay the specified “ransom,” the product is released online. There’s a potential problem with free riders, obviously, but apparently results have been promising so far.
If the Free State Project and Ron Paul Money Bombers can use contingency markets….
Well, I assume there are going to be multiple solutions — some complementary, some competing. Let a thousand flours boom and all that.