Predicting the evolution of digital rights, digital objects, and digital rights management languages.

Jonathan Schull, Associate Professor, Information Technology,

Rochester Institute of Technology

Biologization

the ability to reproduce, spread, and evolve.

Virtualizationrepresentation

in purely disembodied

bits.

DigitalRights

Management

When worlds collide

The Virtualization of Money

Fee for Service predates Exchange

Barter: exchange of things for things

Evolution of Money

Negotiable Scarce Commodities …

Weighable Scarce Commodities

Authenticatable and therefore Countable

From Silver Certificates …

…to Good Faith

The Virtualization of Money: no problem!

(If you can count on the constant vigilance and full force of the most powerful political and military forces in the history of mankind.)

Increasingly, it’s digital documents for digital documents

Digital Rights

Management (for money) is a done

deal.

Digital Rights

Management (for money) is a done

deal.

The Virtualization of Information ProductsA similar story.

On the other hand… What about biology?

Two Meanings of Publishing

Two Meanings of Publishing1. Dissemination of Information Processes: the economy of ecology

and the wealth of notions

1. Dissemination of Information Processes: the economy of ecology

and the wealth of notions

2. Manufacturing of Information Products:the economy of thingsand the wealth of nations

Self-propagating information media• Self-reproducing machines

• Digital Media• Writing• Speech• Memes• Nervous Systems

and Imitation• Viruses and Cells• DNA• RNA• Protocells

Information is not a thing.

• Some patterns don't just move from place to place.– They reproduce

– They spread

– They evolve.

Digital Media and Me

Superdistribution: the Early Days

1990

(Specialized Hardware)

1992

(All Software)

1994

(Metered Usage)

Context-sensitivity

Future of Superdistribution:More Virtual

• Non-currency remuneration (OMA tokens?)

Tracking Redistribution: Why?

Future of Superdistribution:More Viral:

Tracking and compensating re-distribution

• Compensation for Redistribution• Can ODRL specify rights for re-distributors?

Future of SuperdistributionMore Viral:

Tracking and compensating re-distribution

Tracking Redistribution: How?

Personal Information Trust • Privacy Problem

– Tracking data are personal data– Privacy rights are weakly defined

• Solution?– Help subjects of tracking data

• exploit value,

• preserve privacy

?!

MarkMarketer

MarkMarketer

ConnieConsumer

Dear 12345,

…Sincerely, Mark Marketer

Dear Connie,

…Sincerely, Mark Marketer

Dear Mark,

…Sincerely, Connie

Dear Mark,

…Sincerely, 12345

Anonymized,TemporalizedConsumer #12345.678

Personal Information Trust• Because Value of Personal Information is synergistic:

– Each bit is more valuable with other bits– Because only the consumer can combine bits…

…consumer controls usage, reaps benefits– The PIT and consumer can profit…

…by purchasing data from 3rd parties.• 3rd parties would get better prices from the PIT than from spammers.• Marketers would get more value from the PIT than from black market data mongers.

Privacy Challenges

Can we assert rights over..– Tracking data?

• Where?– In the transferred objects?– Via the transaction system?– Both?

» Tracking data will often of most value to the content creator

– Data generated by information transactions

• between and among individuals and marketers?

– Conditions under which contact is welcome

– Conditions under which tracking data can be used

Adaptation by Natural Selection

• Reproduction• Mutation• Inheritance• Differential Reproduction

– Functional Mutations!• Price

• Color Scheme

• Trial Durations

• Rights Conditions?

Central Server can ensure that

differential reproduction promotes “vendor fitness” not just “viral reproduction”

Challenge

Is it possible to assert rights over – documents that are intended to

change…

• randomly ?

• In a directed fashion?

Thank You!