Just as limited bandwidth was the excuse for applying censorship to broadcast media, it appears that the zealous protection of intellectual property presents the greatest threat to free digital expression.
Predictor: Barlow, John Perry
Prediction, in context:In this section of the online history of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, written in 1990, Barlow questions what is intellectual “property” and points out that this concept (of ownership and regulation) will be of primary concern for the EFF: ”Intellectual Property: This phrase has always sounded like an oxymoron to me. ‘Property’ seems to imply something more tangible than the mysterious stuff to which the term applies, and it is from this ambiguity that arises much of the difficulty along the electronic frontier. Just as limited bandwidth was the excuse for applying censorship to broadcast media, it appears that the zealous protection of intellectual property presents the greatest threat to free digital expression.”
Biography:John Perry Barlow helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990 with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members Mitch Kapor and John Gilmore in direct response to a threat to free speech. Barlow’s was one of the loudest voices in the battle to keep the Internet unfettered while still encouraging that it become a tool available to everyone. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)
Date of prediction: November 8, 1990
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Copyright/Intellectual Property/Plagiarism
Name of publication: The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Title, headline, chapter name: Intellectual Property
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
www.eff.org/EFF/Historical/history.eff
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Bizzell, Natalie