The Hazards of Obstruction

In a more rational world companies that distribute intellectual property electronically (the music industry, Hollywood, television, publishing, etc.) would have embraced the Internet and digital distribution.

Technology is not going away, and like it or not, people of all generations are integrating technology into their lives—whether it’s music for a workout or a book to occupy a lengthy commute—customizable, portable entertainment is here to stay, and will continue to evolve.

Yes, gross sales from specific artists might have declined, but distribution costs and middleman profit would be eliminated. New artists and ideas could be introduced without friction at minimal cost. New profit models like advertising-supported, small scale licensing, and paid streaming would emerge.

I know its old news that the RIAA and MPAA are trying keep the genie in the bottle as long as they can, with lawsuit tactics that border on extortion, moronic attempts to ban technologies (remember DAT tape?), cumbersome digital protection systems that punish legitimate purchasers, and other bits of idiocy. I saw a post in Seth Godin’s blog about the MPAA using dogs to sniff out pirated DVD’s. Wonderful leadership there, what vision.

But rather than just snicker at a group of geezers trying to make sure the world doesn’t change on their watch, it’s a good idea to take a look at your own business and markets. We may not be trying to hold back the tides, but is the desire to see our current business model survive blinding us to hidden opportunities?

I’ve always admired HP’s willingness to make their previous technology obsolete. And, I for one am willing to make sure our business doesn’t just survive the next evolution, but it’s poised to actually lead and influence how the evolution unfolds. It’s worth a look.