Someone sent me this link to a blog post by Clay Shirky, a writer, consultant and adjunct professor at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program, on the future of newspapers and, by extension, publishing. It's eye-opening, and a little scary.The consensus is that newspapers are dying, killed off by the Internet and the unlimited ability to share content that once had been both proprietary and closely guarded. Last week's demise of the Rocky Mountain News is just the latest evidence that the consensus is right.
Content is intellectual property. Owners of content used to be compensated by the price of a subscription, or by advertising in the vehicle that carried the content. But how do owners of content get compensated when the content, once sold to a single buyer, becomes ubiqutous, and free for anyone and everyone else?
I certainly don't have the answers; neither does Shirky. But I guess this is what a revolution feels like, when the old order is unravelling before the new has yet been woven. I had to share this. Comments, even jeers and epithets, are welcome.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Guess What? You Don't Own Your Mailbox
You have a problem with that? So do I.
But apparently the people at the Association for Postal Commerce, who are fighting prospective Do Not Mail legislation, believe differently. In particular, Gene Del Polito, president of the Association, had this to say in an interview with DMNews, a direct marketing industry publication, "When the day comes (where) you will start paying to receive mail, then I will be willing to concede to you that you have some ability or authority to control what mail you receive."
As if that werent' arrogant enough, Del Polito says that if you want to stop receiving direct mail, then simply stop doing business with companies that send it to you.
So here you have the head of an industry association who thinks he has an unfettered right to clutter your home mailbox with whatever he chooses to send, whenever he chooses to send it. And if you don't like it, then stop doing business with the member companies who pay his salary! This guy, who apparently is not one of the western world's greatest geniuses, manages in one paragraph to insult both prospective customers for the junk he peddles, and the companies who support him with their membership dues.
Meanwhile, direct mail accounts for nearly 2.5% of all municipal solid waste in the United States. That's a lot of trees lost, pollution generated, and strain placed on municipal landfills to feed this industry's monumental arrogance.
What to do? If you live in one of the states below that are considering Do Not Mail Legislation, you may want to let your legislators know you don't appreciate Del Polito and his ilk attempting to -- in the finest Marxist traditions -- expropriate your mailbox.
Hawaii
S. 908 provides for the establishment of a state Do Not Mail Registry and requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs “to work with postal authorities and private entities to ensure that persons on [the] registry do not receive unwanted solicitations.” The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Affordable Housing, the Judiciary Committee, and the Committee on Ways and Means. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
HB2592 provides for the establishment of a state Do Not Mail Registry and requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs "to work with postal authorities and private entities to ensure that persons on [the] registry do not receive unwanted solicitations." The bill has been referred to the Consumer Protection and Commerce, Judiciary and Finance Committees.
Illinois
SB2115 requires the Attorney General to create a “Junk Mail Opt-Out List” for Illinois residents who do not want to receive “junk mail.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
Maryland
HB53 would require the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General "to establish and provide for the operation of a restricted mailing registry; require a person that sends certain solicitations to certain consumers to purchase the registry and updates to the registry from the Division; and prohibit a person from sending certain solicitations to certain consumers after a certain period of time." This bill has been withdrawn by the sponsor.
Michigan
H. 4199 directs the Public Service Commission to establish a Do Not Mail list of residents who have indicated they do not wish to receive mail solicitations. The bill requires mail solicitations to include the full name of the entity for whom the communication was mailed and a telephone number. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Commerce. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
New Hampshire
HB 1506 directs the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the Department of Justice to establish and operate a registry of state residents who do not wish to receive solicitations. The bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee, where a hearing was held on January 24, 2008. In a voice vote on the floor on February 6, 2008, the New Hampshire House designated the bill "inexpedient to legislate", essentially voting it down.
New York
A. 2520 directed the Consumer Protection Board to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail/E-Mail State Registry listing consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited direct mail marketing materials. The bill was withdrawn by the sponsor.
S. 1403 directs the Consumer Protection Board to establish a registry of consumers who do not want to receive unsolicited direct mail marketing. The bill also directs the board to provide a way for consumers to register via a toll-free telephone number. The bill was referred to the Consumer Protection Committee. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
North Carolina
H1699 directs the North Carolina Utilities Commission to contract with a designated agent to maintain a “junk mail” opt-out list. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary 1. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
Rhode Island
RI H 6190 directs the Public Utilities Commission to contract with a designated agent to maintain a Do Not Mail database listing postal patrons who do not wish to receive junk mail. bill was referred to the House Constituent Services Committee, where a hearing was held on March 29, 2007. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
Tennessee
SB3760 creates an “unsolicited junk mail” list for residential mail recipients who do not want to receive unsolicited direct marketing materials. The list would be administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs of the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The bill has been withdrawn by the sponsor.
Vermont
VT H 409 directs the state Attorney General to establish a Do Not Mail registry for residents who object to receiving solicitations. A solicitation is defined as any communication via mail for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services. This bill carried over to the 2008 session. The House Commerce Committee held a hearing on the bill on February 7, 2008, but took no further action.
Washington
H. 1205 directs the attorney general to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail Registry. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
S. 5719 directs the attorney general to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail Registry. The bill was referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Housing. A hearing was held February 8, 2007. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
But apparently the people at the Association for Postal Commerce, who are fighting prospective Do Not Mail legislation, believe differently. In particular, Gene Del Polito, president of the Association, had this to say in an interview with DMNews, a direct marketing industry publication, "When the day comes (where) you will start paying to receive mail, then I will be willing to concede to you that you have some ability or authority to control what mail you receive."
As if that werent' arrogant enough, Del Polito says that if you want to stop receiving direct mail, then simply stop doing business with companies that send it to you.
So here you have the head of an industry association who thinks he has an unfettered right to clutter your home mailbox with whatever he chooses to send, whenever he chooses to send it. And if you don't like it, then stop doing business with the member companies who pay his salary! This guy, who apparently is not one of the western world's greatest geniuses, manages in one paragraph to insult both prospective customers for the junk he peddles, and the companies who support him with their membership dues.
Meanwhile, direct mail accounts for nearly 2.5% of all municipal solid waste in the United States. That's a lot of trees lost, pollution generated, and strain placed on municipal landfills to feed this industry's monumental arrogance.
What to do? If you live in one of the states below that are considering Do Not Mail Legislation, you may want to let your legislators know you don't appreciate Del Polito and his ilk attempting to -- in the finest Marxist traditions -- expropriate your mailbox.
Hawaii
S. 908 provides for the establishment of a state Do Not Mail Registry and requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs “to work with postal authorities and private entities to ensure that persons on [the] registry do not receive unwanted solicitations.” The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Affordable Housing, the Judiciary Committee, and the Committee on Ways and Means. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
HB2592 provides for the establishment of a state Do Not Mail Registry and requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs "to work with postal authorities and private entities to ensure that persons on [the] registry do not receive unwanted solicitations." The bill has been referred to the Consumer Protection and Commerce, Judiciary and Finance Committees.
Illinois
SB2115 requires the Attorney General to create a “Junk Mail Opt-Out List” for Illinois residents who do not want to receive “junk mail.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
Maryland
HB53 would require the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General "to establish and provide for the operation of a restricted mailing registry; require a person that sends certain solicitations to certain consumers to purchase the registry and updates to the registry from the Division; and prohibit a person from sending certain solicitations to certain consumers after a certain period of time." This bill has been withdrawn by the sponsor.
Michigan
H. 4199 directs the Public Service Commission to establish a Do Not Mail list of residents who have indicated they do not wish to receive mail solicitations. The bill requires mail solicitations to include the full name of the entity for whom the communication was mailed and a telephone number. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Commerce. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
New Hampshire
HB 1506 directs the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the Department of Justice to establish and operate a registry of state residents who do not wish to receive solicitations. The bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee, where a hearing was held on January 24, 2008. In a voice vote on the floor on February 6, 2008, the New Hampshire House designated the bill "inexpedient to legislate", essentially voting it down.
New York
A. 2520 directed the Consumer Protection Board to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail/E-Mail State Registry listing consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited direct mail marketing materials. The bill was withdrawn by the sponsor.
S. 1403 directs the Consumer Protection Board to establish a registry of consumers who do not want to receive unsolicited direct mail marketing. The bill also directs the board to provide a way for consumers to register via a toll-free telephone number. The bill was referred to the Consumer Protection Committee. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
North Carolina
H1699 directs the North Carolina Utilities Commission to contract with a designated agent to maintain a “junk mail” opt-out list. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary 1. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
Rhode Island
RI H 6190 directs the Public Utilities Commission to contract with a designated agent to maintain a Do Not Mail database listing postal patrons who do not wish to receive junk mail. bill was referred to the House Constituent Services Committee, where a hearing was held on March 29, 2007. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
Tennessee
SB3760 creates an “unsolicited junk mail” list for residential mail recipients who do not want to receive unsolicited direct marketing materials. The list would be administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs of the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The bill has been withdrawn by the sponsor.
Vermont
VT H 409 directs the state Attorney General to establish a Do Not Mail registry for residents who object to receiving solicitations. A solicitation is defined as any communication via mail for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services. This bill carried over to the 2008 session. The House Commerce Committee held a hearing on the bill on February 7, 2008, but took no further action.
Washington
H. 1205 directs the attorney general to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail Registry. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
S. 5719 directs the attorney general to establish and maintain a Do Not Mail Registry. The bill was referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Housing. A hearing was held February 8, 2007. This bill carried over to the 2008 session.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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