[p2p-research] Are e-books likely to disappear, was: Universities Irrelevant by 2020?

[Ryan Lanham]

Hi Marco,

A license to a property is a token--a currency if you will.  That token
should be portable amongst those who are interested in the currency.  The
ultimate portability of a currency token is a commodity (e.g. gold).
However, commodities get lost, damaged, burned, stolen, etc.  So they have
problems too.  Books are often stolen and the commodity corrodes rapidly
with use.  An e-book is a token that can be reloaded or
transferred...assuming the currency network is set up as a p2p open currency
framework.  Over time, given alternatives, Amazon would have to respond to
alternative token readers.  I see nothing preventing that.  If they resist,
open source alternatives will ensue.  They probably will anyway.

Ryan Lanham



On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 12:43 AM, M. Fioretti <mfioretti at nexaima.net> wrote:

> On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 00:46:21 AM +0100, Andy Robinson wrote:
> > Let's take a few issues one at a time.
>
> Agreed, but then it may be better to go with separate threads. Anyway:
>
> > 1) Are books likely to disappear?
> > Personally I'm happy reading ebooks, but I think most people still prefer
> paper
>
> besides "physical" issues (paper less tiring for the eyes than some
> monitors, the feeling of a "real" book) etc... there's another
> critical issue with many e-books, even ignoring DRM: proprietary or
> otherwise custom formats.
>
> See slide 30 of
> http://mfioretti.com/how-file-formats-can-be-used-favor-or-hamper-innovation-active-citizenship-and-really-free-marketsor
> http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7975
>
> I can pass my paper books to my children, grandchildren etc... without
> any problem. Above all, I can keep reading them even if I change brand
> of glasses or bind them into a new cover when the old one breaks. What
> happens if you buy an e-book for kindle, sony, etc..., and next year
> somebody else makes a much better e-book reader which you want to buy?
>
> Marco
> --
> Your own civil rights and the quality of your life heavily depend on how
> software is used *around* you:            http://digifreedom.net/node/84
>
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