How influential is the Free Culture Movement and the book that gives it its name? One way to judge is by measuring the ferocity of the opposition.
Those who have pushed for copyright maximization over the past decade or so have been able to do so unfettered by inconveniences like public deliberation or even serious attention.
The public interest side has until recently lacked a vocabulary, and agenda, and a bibliography. It also lacked a lobby and a vocal constituency. So the maximalists – those who strive for a permission (and payment) culture have smiled through these radical years, knowing that nothing anyone says will disrupt their march toward complete privatization of culture.
Until now. Now maximalists are panicking. People everywhere object to their excesses and tactics. People are reading books that outline the values, the movement, and the strategies that might help free up the symbols, words, and ideas that we all rely on in a Democratic republic and a creative economy.
I know this because the maximalists are sinking to ad hominem attacks.
. . .
Is every area of life subject to such bad faith polarization?
Perhaps I hang around too many people who actually read the books they criticize. So I was a bit stunned. I have engaged in conversations with many people who disagree with Lessig and me, but rarely have they insulted either of us for our commitment, our sincerity, or our sanity.
The gentleman – who, as I said, is quite nice and intelligent – sensed that I took a bit of offense at this comment. It was clear to me that he had spent too much time with too many people who tend to insult Lessig and the Free Culture movement out of habit, so I kept my umbrage under control. He admitted he had not read any of Lessig’s work, and we continued to discuss the agenda for the meeting. He expressed curiosity and interest in my two sessions, both of which dealt with copyright in some way. Over the next two days, it grew clear to me that this gentleman had simply been led astray by his employers.
However, the insults kept coming from others. I heard at least three other people at the conference insult those who advocate less-than-absolute copyright protection. Rudeness and vitriol emerged with remarkable consistency, as if orchestrated by Karl Rove himself. The insults continued on a well-regarded e-mail list devoted to the music industry. And it became clear that some high-profile musicians were coached to spit out lines intended to make copyright maximization a wedge issue among artists.
