Yes, People Can Comment On Content Business Models Without Having Produced Hit Content

from the appeal-to-false-authority dept

We've seen it over and over again in the comments on Techdirt. We'll talk about the impact of copyright or patents, and a lawyer will claim that unless we're an IP lawyer, we should not comment. Or we'll talk about content business models for the music or movie industry, and someone will claim that until we've had a hit song or movie, we should not comment. The argument always struck me as a curious one. After all, just because you don't have a law degree, doesn't mean you can't understand copyright law. In fact, since we're usually talking about the economic impact of copyright law, it seemed like the easy retort is that if those lawyers didn't have an economics degree, perhaps they shouldn't be talking about the impact of copyright law either. Of course, that's silly. The fact is, anyone who understands the basic issues has a right to give their opinion, and back it up with facts and discuss their positions. But saying that someone who doesn't have "x degree" or "y experience" is usually a response from someone who doesn't want to argue the actual details.

Filmmaker Ross Pruden just wrote a blog post discussing this, where he pointed out that you don't need first-hand experience to understand details and make a proper judgment call about how to run a business. When we talk about music or movie business models, I'm not suggesting I know how to make a hit song or movie. But I can look at the economics and suggest what makes sense from a business perspective given the market today. Just as Ross can look at the market and realize that how things are done today don't make as much sense, even if he hasn't (yet) made a "commercially successful film."

This whole appeal to a false authority is a bit annoying, because it's an easy way to dismiss the messenger without addressing the message. I doubt it will change, but it was nice of Ross to call out this point. Having created a hit song doesn't mean you know how to navigate a changing market. Knowing how to produce a blockbuster movie doesn't mean you know how to use the internet to your advantage. Knowing how to get a patent doesn't mean you know how patents impact innovation. Unfortunately, some people think that if they know one aspect of these things, only they are allowed to comment on the business models or economic implications. That's simply not true -- and those who go there tend to be in denial about the market challenges they face.

Filed Under: business models, commentary