A Zinger from Dean Baker

Here is a nice put down of Jaron Lanier by Dean Baker:

More Repression Over Copyrights: When "Creative" People Lack Creativity

The NYT reviewed a new book by Jaron Lanier, who we are assured is a very creative person and one of the early pioneers of the web. According to the review, Mr. Lanier is very upset about people getting material at no cost over the web. His preferred solution is harsher punishments for copyright violation.

Of course, another possible direction would be to devise alternative mechanisms for financing creative work. But that would require creativity.

That's funny! Baker has hit him squarely between the eyes!

Seems to me that a guy like Lanier who lives on an income boosted by "fame" would be more respectful of those who use the web to "promote" him by talking about him or his ideas. Instead he comes across like the Grinch That Stole Christmas by wanting to have both the big bucks from being famous as well as ability to make sure nobody else gets fame or money from "using his name. I just hope that Jaron Lanier's dream comes true and everybody forgets that he exists and he gets to watch his books stop selling and job opportunities dry up. I love to hear the next big job opportunity come up and somebody say "Jaron who?" That way Lanier would get to quietly keep his IP all to himself in a black hole of obscurity and poverty.