[Air-L] New book on copyleft, open source and computer code

[Dr. David Berry]

Hi

I would like to draw your attention to my new book on copyleft, open  
source and computer code published by Pluto Press/University of  
Michigan Press.

Best regards

David M. Berry

---

Copy, Rip, Burn: The Politics of Copyleft and Open Source
by David M. Berry

 From downloading music and movies to accessing free software, digital  
media is forcing us to rethink the very idea of intellectual property.  
While big companies complain about lost profits, the individual has  
never enjoyed such freedom and autonomy. Berry explores this debate in  
a concise way, offering an ideal introduction for anyone not versed in  
the technical and legalistic terminology that -- up until now -- has  
dominated coverage of this issue. Looking at the historical  
development of the free software and the open source movement he  
examines its growth, politics and potential impact, showing how the  
ideas that inspired the movement have now begun to influence the wider  
cultural landscape. He explores whether free software offers us the  
potential to re-think our relationship with technology in the  
information society. This book will appeal to students of media and  
journalism, and anyone interested in new opportunities for creating a  
truly independent and democratic media.

Key themes include:

- The rise of free software and open source ideas
- The politics of copyleft and open source
- The enclosure of computer code
- Discourses of free software/open source
- Intellectual property rights/digital rights management
- The information society

David M. Berry is Lecturer in Media and Communication at Swansea  
University


September 2008
Hb 978-0745324159
Pb 978-0745324142
£50.00/£16.99

http://www.plutobooks.com/cgi-local/nplutobrows.pl?chkisbn=9780745324142&main=Culture%20and%20Media%20Studies&second=Media%20Studies&third=all