Better Than Free by Kevin Kelly

I just discovered this blog by Kevin Kelly.  Until I have time to run through it, here is the first article I ran across.  I’ll just give you the gist and a link to the whole article. Better Than Free (click here for link to blog) When copies are free, you need to sell things which can not be copied.  Eight Generatives Better Than Free: Immediacy – Sooner or later you can find a free copy of whatever you want, but getting a copy delivered to your inbox the moment it is released — or even better, produced — by its creators is a generative asset.  Personalization – A generic version of a concert recording may be free, but if you want a copy that has been tweaked to sound perfect in your particular living room.   Interpretation – As the old joke goes: software, free. The manual, $10,000.  Authenticity – You might be able to grab a key software application for free, but even if you don’t need a manual, you might like to be sure it is bug free, reliable, and warranted. You’ll pay for authenticity.  Accessibility – Ownership often sucks. You have to keep your things tidy, up-to-date, and in the case of digital material, backed up. And in this mobile world, you have to carry it along with you. Many people, me included, will be happy to have others tend our “possessions” by subscribing to them.  Embodiment – At its core the digital copy is without a body. You can take a free copy of a work and throw it on a screen. But perhaps you’d like to see it in hi-res on a huge screen? Maybe in 3D?   Patronage – It is my belief that audiences WANT to pay creators. Fans like to reward artists, musicians, authors and the like with the tokens of their appreciation, because it allows them to connect. But they will only pay if it is very easy to do, a reasonable amount, and they feel certain the money will directly benefit the creators.  Findability – Where as the previous generative qualities reside within creative digital works, findability is an asset that occurs at a higher level in the aggregate of many works. A zero price does not help direct attention to a work, and in fact may sometimes hinder it. But no matter what its price, a work has no value unless it is seen.  (YES! – Omer)