(2009-01-22) Kelly Owning Renting Sharing

Kevin Kelly on the trend from owning through renting to Sharing Goods. Very likely, in the near future, I won't "own" any music, or books, or movies. Instead I will have immediate access to all music, all books, all movies using an always-on service, via a subscription fee or tax... It's not hard to imagine most other intangible goods becoming social goods as well. Games, education, and health info are also headed in that direction. As creations become digital they tend to become shared, ownerless goods... As goods become disembodied, infused with slivers of mind, and packed full of bits, they will also obey the new dynamics of property. Soon enough everything manufactured will potentially become social property... As cars become more "electronic" or digital, they will tend to be swapped and shared (Car Sharing) and used in a social way... In a rent relationship the renter enjoys many of the benefits of ownership, but without the need for capital, or upkeep. Of course renters are disadvantaged as well because they may not gain all the benefits of traditional ownership, such as rights of modification, long-term access, or gains in value... Leasing, licensing, subscribing are all types of shared ownership. (In general we rent for short-term and lease for longer; we'll rent a car for a week, or lease it for 2 years.)