Review article
Digital Cultural Goods in the Information Society between the Public Sphere and Private Ownership
Aleksandra Uzelac
Abstract
The rapid development of ICT and Internet affects the work of the cultural
sector. The article analyses how the new context that was brought about by
extensive application of digital technologies and networks affects the work of
the cultural sector and what implications this has for the distribution and consumption
of cultural goods. The new situation is defined by different elements
that shape concrete services – not only at the level of software applications
whose possibilities define them, but also the changed characteristics of digital
information (new media), as well as the legislation on copyright that has to resolve
new issues that the digital context creates. The digital environment enables
users to simultaneously access the same information resource, and information
providers have established a new practice of licensing instead of
selling. This has an effect on legal principles, such as fair use and first sale that
protect our public domain. The author warns that networks and digital technologies
have posed new challenges – they can facilitate exchange of information
and cooperation or enforce tighter controls over access to information an cultural goods. Commodification of culture changes the way creators work,
but it could also affect civic liberties, like the right to information, free speech
and creative freedom. The choices we make through legislation and policies
will affect how culture is produced and consumed and consequently in what
kind of information society we can be expected to live.
Keywords
cultural goods; digital technology; authors rights; public domain; civil society
Hrčak ID:
23010
URI
Publication date:
20.6.2004.
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