Information Society Watch

2007, Andrew L

This paper extends the 'free as in free speech, not free beer' axiom of the free software movement to analyse the development of Internet media. The paper observes that while Internet media companies provide the equivalent of free beer, sites "like YouTube, Google Video and MySpace employ a 'hoarding architecture' that provides only a form of fake sharing. These sites severely limit what you can and cannot do with the media you upload and view." In order to extend freedom to Internet media the author argues that any online spaces should adopt the principles of free software including the 'ability to add open content licenses to your work; transparent and democratic editorial processes; use of free software to run the website with the code available for others to make improvements to.'

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