Contested Codes: The Social Construction of Napster

In the 5 years since its inception, some interpretations of the software program known as Napster have been inscribed into laws, business plans, and purchasing decisions while others have been pushed to the fringes. This article examines how and why certain assumptions about Napster have gained grea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Information society 2005-07, Vol.21 (3), p.169-180
Main Authors: Spitz, David, Hunter, Starling D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business
Complement
Computer programs
Computer Software
Copyright
Copyrights
digital music
Discourse analysis
Downloading
Economic analysis
Electronic media
Empirical analysis
Exact sciences and technology
file-sharing
Impact analysis
Information and communication sciences
Information and communication technologies
Information science. Documentation
Internet
Markets
Mathematical analysis
Miscellaneous
Music
music industry
Napster
Piracy
Purchasing
Sciences and techniques of general use
Social aspects
social construction
Social Constructionism
Social impact
Software
Studies
World Wide Web
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Summary:In the 5 years since its inception, some interpretations of the software program known as Napster have been inscribed into laws, business plans, and purchasing decisions while others have been pushed to the fringes. This article examines how and why certain assumptions about Napster have gained greater currency while others have not. Our analytical approach involves an examination of discourse about Napster in several arenas-legal, economic, social, and cultural-and is informed by a conceptualization of Napster as an ongoing encounter between, rather than the accomplishment of, inventor(s), institution(s), and interest(s). While we recognize the value of empirical examinations of Napster's impact on firms and markets, as well as the proscriptive advice which it supports, we opt here for providing a contextualized understanding of the technology that complements rather than substitutes for empirical analyses of it.
ISSN:0197-2243
1087-6537
DOI:10.1080/01972240490951890