"I think you missed the premise of "in a competitive market""
No, I didnt.
"A competitive market presupposes consumer demand, and enough sellers (or maybe enough sellers without monopoly power) and low enough barriers to entry into the market to allow for competition."
I believe you miss the point on what quantifies "consumer demand". Consumer demand is nothing that should be taken for granted and meeting that demand is not strictly about having ample quantity on hand for sale or distribution to match the numbers. It involves (but not limited to) quantity, quality, and afford-ability. With an emphasis on afford-ability. You could have the only company in existence with a product (physical or content) , with unlimited supply (ie digital content),that you perceive as the public not being able to do with out. If your price is too high some people may buy but most will not. If they feel they absolutely have to have it, but not at your price, they will find another way to get it. Including building another company to make a similar (or the exact same) product cheaper (ie knock-offs, "piracy" ,black market). These are not forces that work against a free (and competitive) market but are actually a part of that same market. Working against higher prices and driving innovation. It has been that way for thousands of years.
An example would be when a cave man first learned to crack open a walnut by smashing it between two rocks a second one said open these two and ill give you one. but when the first one got greedy and told the third one it would cost him tree walnuts to get one back, he said ill get my own damn rocks.
"Actually, in a competitive market, price should be equal to marginal cost"
The only problem with your thinking here is that the consumer doesnt care about the costs to the corporations or what they might think the price should be. Thats including the overly inflated salaries of the corporations which are included in those "marginal costs" Consumers only care about the cost to themselves compared to the value received. If the corporation (company) cant find a way to satisfy the consumer then they lose that sale. Lose enough sales, then they go out of business. The corporations can argue "marginal costs" all they want but it falls on "deaf" (consumer) ears. and they can cry about it all the way to bankruptcy court. No one really cares. They will just be replaced by another company willing to work with the consumer. Thats true compitition.
If I remember correctly the major airlines also got nailed for price fixing in the late 80's or early 90's. I cant remember the details (maybe someone can help) but prices fell and price wars broke out afterwards. One or two may have gone out of business or got bought up by others because of it.
Thats the way a free market is supposed to work. The consumer demand sets the price. Not the corporations marketing division. If they set the price too high consumers dont buy and the corporation goes out of business.
Personally, I wont miss the major labels. The "artists" will still be around making music. There will just be a different way of getting it out to the consumer to be purchased, and probably at a price that the consumer finds more reasonable, thus lowering "piracy".
Keep in mind "piracy/black market" is not the problem. "Piracy" is the result of the true problem.
No you dont. USB support is built into virtualbox now. both virtualbox OSE and non-free (3.2.10) allow use of USB devices (with permission change) "out of the box"
See http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=58588
Ive been running Mint for 2 years now and havent had to compile anything yet. I switched to linux because my computer is fine but M$ is going to stop supporting XP for security patches and force people to pay $300 to $400 dollars for 7 (which I dont have) just to keep my computer running. Not to mention all the updates almost every Tuesday, which sometimes causes system crashes and/or bugs. Linux updates are tested by the developers before they are put into the repositories for downloading. I dont even have to have my system slowed down because of running an anti virus program. So this developer thing someone thought up, IMHO, is just a bunch of crap they use as an excuse to justify their opinion.
With linux its pay what you want. Just like Humble Indie Bundle. A lot of people switch for reasons other than monetarily free.
Oh and by the way non-free means "not open source" or "with limitations", not "pay hundreds (or less) of dollars".
Shutting down search engines just because some people use them to search for things is just wrong. Not all torrents are "illegal" or "infringing" (just as not all mp3's, avi's, pdf's, and zip's are "illegal" or "infringing").
That would be similar to banning sports retailers for selling baseball bats, just because some people use ball bats to beat other people with. Like a homeowner who grabs one when their house is being broken into.
This may sound stupid (and slightly off topic. If someone used opensource, or proprietary, software in or as the base code for the AI software, and if the AI created something or figured something out...
Who would then own the copyright, patent, and/or license on the created material/product/discovery?
I could see where it could get a bit confusing.
Who needs the KGB, we have the DHS.
In their zeal to criticize and warn against totalitarian governments, they are slowly becoming (worse than) one themselves.
Tell me again. What was that McCarthyism thing all about?!
[sarc]
"You, Masnick, and everyone here, have never once defended the fact that a creator's work is supposed to be shared on their own terms, not yours."
I know I dont speak for all here, but thats the biggest crock Ive heard in a while. Setting aside all the bleeding heart crap, how can I put this ...wrong!!!
If someone is expecting to receive money from me, then they need to deliver on my terms. They want something from me. Not the other way around. I can prove my point by stating it this way. If I dont like their terms do I starve or do they? Domt get me wrong. They have every right to do it on their terms. Just dont demand that I pay for it. Dont cry and whine that you cant survive on the money you get for a service that not enough people want. I think someone listened to the song "Money for nothing" one too many times. Get over yourself already.
"music should be free"- translation: "creators should donate their work to the collective."
Thats YOUR interpretation
If I see or hear something that I want to own then I look at how much it costs. If I feel that they are charging too much, I wont buy. If you dont like it, thats too bad for you. Create something that will make me want to part with my money. Thats how supply and demand really works. If they think piracy is too big of a problem then they need to look at why. THATS THEIR JOB. But I'LL help out a little.
If their price is too high then lower it. If they arent making enough money to cover their costs. find a cheaper way. If they feel that the money isnt worth their time and effort find a different job and leave it to someone who does.
Sharing/piracy/black market has been around as long as civilization. Have you veer borrowed something because its not worth paying for? Or bought second hand because its cheaper? Its not going to go away anytime soon. Its also the publics answer to an elitist-entitlement mentality. Thats just the way it is, "Sweat of the brow" means nothing except to the one sweating.
My point was that our government and these corporations are the ones acting like a communist state and that their defenders are calling the opposition communists in order to hide it. The reasoning for this is to to put them on the defensive, marginalize what they are trying to say, and get them to shut up and go away.
They also get VERY upset when you call them on it.
Now they can fire the IP lawyers (no more infringing lawsuits)
Disband ICE (no more need to protect the labels)
Get rid of DRM (no one is copying so its just a wast of money)
Throw out ACTA
Get rid of three strikes policies
SHHHHH!! Let them believe it. What they dont know wont hurt them.
The reason that they invoke the "you are a communist" phrase is to redirect the attention from what they are actually doing. If you are too busy defending yourself, then you wont see that they are protecting corporations from capitalism, competition, innovation, and market demands.
Then these same corporations use govt. agencies (ICE) to enforce their will of what to buy, how to buy, and at what price. Very much like how totalitarian govt.'s use their secret police to do the same thing.
hey Anon coward just to show you it works you have peaked my interest in which form of entertainment you provide. Music? which kind? Shakespearian actor? comedian? If its music, or comody are there any mp3s out there I could download? Streams to hear to see if I would like it or not? Ill give you an honest critique :)
Thats the point Mike makes everyday. Sometimes putting the music out there for free gets you the audience to be able to get a following. Nothing has changed. You connect with fans, use social networking and the like to meet with them so you can perform,(preferably at a club where you get part of the door receipts or something), and you get them to keep coming back. A big enough crowd and the club asks you to come back. Its just that with the Internet your fan base has the potential to be huge. but you may need to let at least some of the music go for free just to keep their interest.
It is after you train yourself to ignore the ads. I dont even hear them any more. But my point is you will always have people that refuse to pay. Thats just humanity. Its been that way since the beginning. The idea is to provide a valuable enough service (in this case entertainment) that more people will pay you than not. no one is entitled to a paycheck. I believe the Supreme Court has already made that ruling.
On the post: Supreme Court Lets Price Fixing Claims Against Major Labels Over Digital Music Move Forward
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: There's more.
On the post: Supreme Court Lets Price Fixing Claims Against Major Labels Over Digital Music Move Forward
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: There's more.
No, I didnt.
"A competitive market presupposes consumer demand, and enough sellers (or maybe enough sellers without monopoly power) and low enough barriers to entry into the market to allow for competition."
I believe you miss the point on what quantifies "consumer demand". Consumer demand is nothing that should be taken for granted and meeting that demand is not strictly about having ample quantity on hand for sale or distribution to match the numbers. It involves (but not limited to) quantity, quality, and afford-ability. With an emphasis on afford-ability. You could have the only company in existence with a product (physical or content) , with unlimited supply (ie digital content),that you perceive as the public not being able to do with out. If your price is too high some people may buy but most will not. If they feel they absolutely have to have it, but not at your price, they will find another way to get it. Including building another company to make a similar (or the exact same) product cheaper (ie knock-offs, "piracy" ,black market). These are not forces that work against a free (and competitive) market but are actually a part of that same market. Working against higher prices and driving innovation. It has been that way for thousands of years.
An example would be when a cave man first learned to crack open a walnut by smashing it between two rocks a second one said open these two and ill give you one. but when the first one got greedy and told the third one it would cost him tree walnuts to get one back, he said ill get my own damn rocks.
On the post: Supreme Court Lets Price Fixing Claims Against Major Labels Over Digital Music Move Forward
Re: Re: Re: There's more.
The only problem with your thinking here is that the consumer doesnt care about the costs to the corporations or what they might think the price should be. Thats including the overly inflated salaries of the corporations which are included in those "marginal costs" Consumers only care about the cost to themselves compared to the value received. If the corporation (company) cant find a way to satisfy the consumer then they lose that sale. Lose enough sales, then they go out of business. The corporations can argue "marginal costs" all they want but it falls on "deaf" (consumer) ears. and they can cry about it all the way to bankruptcy court. No one really cares. They will just be replaced by another company willing to work with the consumer. Thats true compitition.
On the post: Supreme Court Lets Price Fixing Claims Against Major Labels Over Digital Music Move Forward
Re: Re: There's more.
If I remember correctly the major airlines also got nailed for price fixing in the late 80's or early 90's. I cant remember the details (maybe someone can help) but prices fell and price wars broke out afterwards. One or two may have gone out of business or got bought up by others because of it.
Thats the way a free market is supposed to work. The consumer demand sets the price. Not the corporations marketing division. If they set the price too high consumers dont buy and the corporation goes out of business.
Personally, I wont miss the major labels. The "artists" will still be around making music. There will just be a different way of getting it out to the consumer to be purchased, and probably at a price that the consumer finds more reasonable, thus lowering "piracy".
Keep in mind "piracy/black market" is not the problem. "Piracy" is the result of the true problem.
On the post: Second Humble Indie Bundle Does Even Better Than The First
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Switched to Linux
No you dont. USB support is built into virtualbox now. both virtualbox OSE and non-free (3.2.10) allow use of USB devices (with permission change) "out of the box"
See http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=58588
Ive been running Mint for 2 years now and havent had to compile anything yet. I switched to linux because my computer is fine but M$ is going to stop supporting XP for security patches and force people to pay $300 to $400 dollars for 7 (which I dont have) just to keep my computer running. Not to mention all the updates almost every Tuesday, which sometimes causes system crashes and/or bugs. Linux updates are tested by the developers before they are put into the repositories for downloading. I dont even have to have my system slowed down because of running an anti virus program. So this developer thing someone thought up, IMHO, is just a bunch of crap they use as an excuse to justify their opinion.
With linux its pay what you want. Just like Humble Indie Bundle. A lot of people switch for reasons other than monetarily free.
Oh and by the way non-free means "not open source" or "with limitations", not "pay hundreds (or less) of dollars".
On the post: Torrent-Finder Plans To Fight Domain Seizure
Ban sports retailers?
That would be similar to banning sports retailers for selling baseball bats, just because some people use ball bats to beat other people with. Like a homeowner who grabs one when their house is being broken into.
On the post: DailyDirt: Unmanned Spaceships And Robots
AI, interesting concept for copyright
Who would then own the copyright, patent, and/or license on the created material/product/discovery?
I could see where it could get a bit confusing.
On the post: Once Again, Feds Found To Be Abusing Surveillance Procedures With Little Oversight
In their zeal to criticize and warn against totalitarian governments, they are slowly becoming (worse than) one themselves.
Tell me again. What was that McCarthyism thing all about?!
[sarc]
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I know I dont speak for all here, but thats the biggest crock Ive heard in a while. Setting aside all the bleeding heart crap, how can I put this ...wrong!!!
If someone is expecting to receive money from me, then they need to deliver on my terms. They want something from me. Not the other way around. I can prove my point by stating it this way. If I dont like their terms do I starve or do they? Domt get me wrong. They have every right to do it on their terms. Just dont demand that I pay for it. Dont cry and whine that you cant survive on the money you get for a service that not enough people want. I think someone listened to the song "Money for nothing" one too many times. Get over yourself already.
On the post: DailyDirt: Somewhat Alien Life And Outer Space
HAHAHA... Im sorry Mike, I cant help it...HAHAHA
California should copyright that ... PLEASE!
Just kidding
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Thats YOUR interpretation
If I see or hear something that I want to own then I look at how much it costs. If I feel that they are charging too much, I wont buy. If you dont like it, thats too bad for you. Create something that will make me want to part with my money. Thats how supply and demand really works. If they think piracy is too big of a problem then they need to look at why. THATS THEIR JOB. But I'LL help out a little.
If their price is too high then lower it. If they arent making enough money to cover their costs. find a cheaper way. If they feel that the money isnt worth their time and effort find a different job and leave it to someone who does.
Sharing/piracy/black market has been around as long as civilization. Have you veer borrowed something because its not worth paying for? Or bought second hand because its cheaper? Its not going to go away anytime soon. Its also the publics answer to an elitist-entitlement mentality. Thats just the way it is, "Sweat of the brow" means nothing except to the one sweating.
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Thats because it has more shock value.
My point was that our government and these corporations are the ones acting like a communist state and that their defenders are calling the opposition communists in order to hide it. The reasoning for this is to to put them on the defensive, marginalize what they are trying to say, and get them to shut up and go away.
They also get VERY upset when you call them on it.
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
YEAH, Piracy is dead!!!
Disband ICE (no more need to protect the labels)
Get rid of DRM (no one is copying so its just a wast of money)
Throw out ACTA
Get rid of three strikes policies
SHHHHH!! Let them believe it. What they dont know wont hurt them.
On the post: Piracy Is Over Like The Web Is Dead
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Then these same corporations use govt. agencies (ICE) to enforce their will of what to buy, how to buy, and at what price. Very much like how totalitarian govt.'s use their secret police to do the same thing.
But even they still had a black market.
On the post: US Copyright Group Sued For Extortion, Conspiracy & Fraud
Re: Re: US Copyright Group Sued For Extortion, Conspiracy & Fraud
On the post: US Copyright Group Sued For Extortion, Conspiracy & Fraud
US Copyright Group Sued For Extortion, Conspiracy & Fraud
On the post: How ACTA Will Increase Copyright Infringement
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: How ACTA Will Increase Copyright Infringement
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: How ACTA Will Increase Copyright Infringement
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
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