Freeloading
how our insatiable appetite for free content starves creativity
Published on 27. February 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-921844-29-4 (ISBN)
Description
Internet piracy: it's an eternal battle pitting indies versus corporations, free spirits against the moneygrubbing Scrooge McDucks of the world.
Right?
Sort of, sometimes - maybe not. Freeloading takes a critical, cool look at a near-pervasive phenomenon that involves almost everyone who taps a keyboard. Beyond that, it's a reminder of the truism that for every action there are consequences. What happens when we pirate a favourite work of art - a song, book, or movie? And as importantly: what, if anything, can or should be done about it?
Author Chris Ruen, himself a former dedicated freeloader, came to understand how illegal downloads can threaten an entire artistic community after he spent time with successful Brooklyn bands who had yet to make a significant profit on their popular music. Through original research and extensive interviews with musicians and artists, Freeloading not only dissects this ongoing battle but also proposes concise, practical solutions that provide protection to artists and consumers alike.
Right?
Sort of, sometimes - maybe not. Freeloading takes a critical, cool look at a near-pervasive phenomenon that involves almost everyone who taps a keyboard. Beyond that, it's a reminder of the truism that for every action there are consequences. What happens when we pirate a favourite work of art - a song, book, or movie? And as importantly: what, if anything, can or should be done about it?
Author Chris Ruen, himself a former dedicated freeloader, came to understand how illegal downloads can threaten an entire artistic community after he spent time with successful Brooklyn bands who had yet to make a significant profit on their popular music. Through original research and extensive interviews with musicians and artists, Freeloading not only dissects this ongoing battle but also proposes concise, practical solutions that provide protection to artists and consumers alike.
Reviews / Votes
'Taking a rare and refreshingly unbiased look at the phenomenon of internet piracy, [Freeloading] is that rarest of discursive entities; a call for more conversation, both balanced and passionate ... it manages to present the pros and cons of all sides of the argument ... without the hyperbole that typically surrounds the subject.' -- Tony McMahon * InPress Magazine * '[The] fact that content can so easily be looted doesn't justify doing so ... If you value art you have to support those who make it.' -- Fiona Capp * Sydney Morning Herald * 'A deeply moral and passionate book' * The Sunday Age * 'A wonderful book that catches an encouraging shift in the zeitgeist. Ruen's epiphany regarding the effects of his own piracy and freeloading of the bands he loves was eye opening.' -- David Byrne, musician and author, How Music Works 'The original slacker's dream of free everything may have been realized by the Internet-but along with it came the slacker's nightmare of never getting paid for one's creativity. Freeloading seeks-and to a large extent succeeds-to wrestle with the collapse of the commons and the possibilities for a renewed social contract.' -- Douglas Rushkoff, media theorist, author of Life, Inc. and Program or Be ProgrammedMore details
Edition
UK edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Australia
Edition type
New edition
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 135 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-921844-29-4 (9781921844294)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Chris Ruen, a Brooklyn-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Slate, is a former contributing editor for Cool'eh magazine. He has covered music culture for Tiny Mix Tapes, a Minneapolis based online music magazine.