Networking and Broadcasting An Historical Perspective William Warner U of California/ Santa Barbara November 6, 2003

William Warner UC Santa Barbara2 Institutionalizing the Networked Computer First thesis: the tension between copyright and the networked computer is the process by which a new technology, the networked computer, is being institutionalized  First thesis: the tension between copyright and the networked computer is the process by which a new technology, the networked computer, is being institutionalized  given technical definition given technical definition customary social roles customary social roles legal standing. legal standing. Example: the first decades of radio Example: the first decades of radio

William Warner UC Santa Barbara3 Networking versus Broadcasting networked Second thesis: the currently unfolding legal and social battle around copyright and the networked computer should be understood as the latest episode in a long American history of the struggle between two social functions of media, “networking” and “broadcasting.”

William Warner UC Santa Barbara4 Modes of Communication Networking and Broadcasting one-to-one communication one-to-one communication horizontal, symmetrical, decentralized and (potentially) egalitarian horizontal, symmetrical, decentralized and (potentially) egalitarian an extemporaneous informal style an extemporaneous informal style one-to-many communication vertical, asymmetrical, centralized and implicitly hierarchical encourages fixed generic conventions and correct usage

William Warner UC Santa Barbara5 Networking and Broadcasting Media forms epistolary correspondence by post telegraph telephone Peer-to-peer file sharing publication in print film radio and tv broadcasting spam web pages

William Warner UC Santa Barbara6 Networking and Broadcasting Social forms the club the club the committee the committee the postal service the postal service –corresponding societies for 18 th century for science –committees of correspondence for mobilizing political participation the public the author the work critique celebrity fandom

William Warner UC Santa Barbara7 Ethical imperatives Networking and Broadcasting the taboo on opening other people’s mail the taboo on opening other people’s mail the vigilance about computer viruses the vigilance about computer viruses the taboo against plagiarism the law of copyright

William Warner UC Santa Barbara8 Conclusions with which to begin Both broadcasting and networking play a necessary and valuable part in culture Both broadcasting and networking play a necessary and valuable part in culture Copyright is a legal system to support broadcasting Copyright is a legal system to support broadcasting We may be witnessing the collision of two distinct media cultures, one associated with broadcasting and the other networking: We may be witnessing the collision of two distinct media cultures, one associated with broadcasting and the other networking: How each sees the other How each sees the other