I was reading about Lessig’s Challenge on geekandproud. While I like the idea of increasing support to groups that fight for the civil liberties, I’m not sure this one is clearly thought out.
These kind of campaigns tend to have some sort of goal or end. Even the kings of money raising, public radio, don’t raise money around the clock.
I don’t see a end or limit to this challenge. Are people really choosing to double the effective cost of of all audio-visual media, telecommunications, and internet access? Are they willing to do this forever or is there an end in sight? The repeal of the DCMA? The repeal of the Sonny Bono copyright extension act? The collapse of the RIAA/MPAA?
Let’s look at the size of a monthly commitment to Lessig’s Challenge in my case:
$80 – internet access
$50 – home phone
$80 – mobile phones
$20 – Netflix
$30 – (2) CDs
$20 – (1) DVD
$30 – Set of movie tickets
$35 – DirecTV
There’s probably more, but let’s add this up. It totals $345. That’s a lot of money I just don’t don’t see people being able to follow through with this kind of spending forever. It sure would nice for the EFF, but I think it is unrealistic.
What’s the right level of giving? I dunno. I should probably think on it a bit more. I’m going to go watch the Lessig presentation before commenting more.
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I don’t know that there needs to be a goal. I will attempt to do this until I feel it is no longer necessary. That time may never come. I do think the point definitely is to double the cost of these things, in part to make me think twice about going to a movie, or buying a CD. The question I ask myself is “Do I really want this enough to give them money?” If the answer is yes, then I probably want it enough to pay double for it.
Also, it’s not all audio-visual media and telecommunications. Part of the effort is to put money into independent media. Money spent this way actually counts towards my “Donations” column. That column probably needs a better name.
If I find it is getting too expensive, then the obvious solution would be to cut down on entertainment spending while continuing to at least match the money to the other side. If I keep supporting these companies doing things I feel are taking away my freedom, the least I should do is support the people fighting these things. If I didn’t do that, then I would have only myself to blame for the situation not getting any better.
I don’t think the media companies are all bad, I just don’t like a lot of what they’re doing. That’s why I don’t boycott them completely (although that’s very difficult to do these days, and they would just blame it on “piracy,” anyway.)  I gave this a lot of thought before I started doing it, and I think it’s definitely the right thing for me to do.