11 Pages Posted: 11 Aug 2010 Last revised: 28 Apr 2020

Date Written: August 10, 2010

Abstract

Content owners claim they are doomed, because in the digital environment, they can't compete with free. But they've made such claims before. This short essay traces the history of content owner claims that new technologies will destroy their business over the last two centuries. None have come to pass. It is likely the sky isn't falling this time either. I suggest some ways content may continue to thrive in the digital environment.