Don't Beat Them, Join Them

In an op-ed in today's The New York Times, Berkman Center Director William Fisher puts the latest round of recording industry lawsuits in perspective. Fisher describes a history of destabilization in the entertainment industry from the advent of radio in the 1920s to web-streaming. He argues that the current trend toward litigation and constrained use could "generate the worst of all possible results" for consumers and copyright holders. A better possible solution could be a "monthly licensing fee paid by Internet users." Read more in the op-ed, Don't Beat Them, Join Them, and about Fisher's upcoming book, Promises to Keep.