Before Grokster, arguments raged that a ruling favorable to Hollywood and the labels would have a chilling effect
technological innovation. When the ruling was revealed, everyone cast about for a couple of days trying to decide
whether it would have a chilling effect on technological innovation. With the dust settled in the post-Grokster age,
evidence is emerging that the ruling has a chilling effect on technological innovation. Chilling. Effect. Chilling
effect. Innovation. Chilling effect on innovation. Got it? Practice saying it in front of a mirror before your next
cocktail party.
Copyright hotshot Lawrence Lessig is
quoted in The Guardian describing one
symptom of The Chilling Effect: "Money has shifted into places which will avoid any conflict with the copyright
holders," says Professor Larry Lessig, the top American advocate for copyright reform. "Why buy a [new innovation that
gets you a lawsuit when you can buy a new innovation that doesn't get you a lawsuit?" Lessig is referring to the
shift of venture capital investments to safer avenues. The most galling aspect of The Chilling Effect, to whatever
extent it actually exists, is the uncertainty of it all. The Supreme Court ruling was threatening enough to intimidate,
but too vague to set clear paths of safe invention.
[via Pho]
The Post-Grokster Buzz Phrase: "Chilling Effect"
Reader Comments
(Page 1)4. Is Chilling Effect innovation really?
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by BuyPiercing
8. Is Chilling Effect innovation really?
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by BuyPiercing
1. chilling as in freezing innovation. what's it's actkually doing is puching innovation. there are for example new technologies that make P2P totally anonymous.
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Joey