Lose or maintain culture?
Google – the ever – growing empire produces nothing but seems determined to control everything. This quote comes from Henry Porter who criticises the monopolist character of the Internet. And indeed, regarding businesses like Google, which seems to take over every single bit of the Internet, he might be right.
It even seems to take over the role of the owner of intellectual property, when announcing that every book will be scanned and available to everybody through the Web now. This is just an extension of the already existing debate around pirate bay, regarding the infringement of copyright of music and films.
To be honest, my opinion about all this is a bit two hearted.
I totally agree that Google developed into a monopoly in the Web and this is questionable regarding the freedom and individuality the Web promises. This is the question many producers and authors face as well, since Google announced its plans with the books.
The authors do not have a chance against Google, as they were not asked beforehand. The only way Google could be stopped would be through users taking action and denying the use of the online books, like it happened in Broughton, when villagers prevented Google to take pictures of their village for Street View.
It is feared that through moving the literature into the Internet a loss of culture will take place.
But then, regarding reading and writing as a basis for democracy, the digital books might be a possibility to encourage more people to read.
And regarding all the information in the Internet through blogs etc. a question of loss of culture could be asked here as well. Wouldn’t it be a chance to enhance the quality of ‘literature’ in the Web, if some real literature would be available?
So, Google might not produce something, but maybe it can help to maintain parts of culture through storing it and making it available?
