Nick Bilton reports for The New York Times, “Tim Wu, the Columbia law professor who came up with the term ‘net neutrality’ in a research paper, has just written a new book, “The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires,” published by Knopf. The book chronicles the rise and fall of companies that develop new technologies, and discusses the future of the Internet.”
Q: When did you first use the term “net neutrality”?
A: I was working in Silicon Valley in the early 2000s for a company that sold technologies designed to filter and block areas of the Internet. Something about it didn’t sit well with me. So I wrote a paper in 2002 for a conference that explained my thoughts on this. Originally, the phrase I was promoting was “broadband discrimination,” and I also said “network neutrality,” to capture the concept, which ended up becoming the default.
Q: What about Facebook?
A: I think Facebook is looking for a mentor, they are looking for a role model. Right now it is choosing between Apple and Google in this great war between open and closed. It is possible that whatever side Facebook takes will have a lot to do with the future of how we communicate.
Q: What worries you about Apple?
A: As I discuss in the book, Steve Jobs has the charisma, vision and instincts of every great information emperor. The man who helped create the personal computer 40 years ago is probably the leading candidate to help exterminate it. His vision has an undeniable appeal, but he wants too much control.
Q: What part of these “evil” acts are the C.E.O.’s and what part are the employees?
A: I think the mogul makes the medium, but it’s also true that once a firm has been in existence long enough, it begins to have a life of its own.
Q: Do you think that will apply to Apple?
A: Yes.
Q: But who will take over it from Steve Jobs?
A: I think it may not matter. I think the mark of Steve Jobs is firmly placed on that firm, that it will continue to be him long after he passes from leadership.
Read more in the full article here.
Sorry, I meant: Pointing the finger at the real (here and now) net neutrality villain – Google – might not have scored the same number of hits.
I’d like to send props to TowerTone. Good on ya…
Guys this MOFO Wu has been put there by the Global Government Creators (your very own mega corporate bankers Rockefeller, Rothschild etc.) to put censor on the Internet and control what we can or can’t say between us by labeling us a possible threat if our sayings do not suit them! They tried that in Australia about a year ago by putting the alternative media like Infowars and wearechange in the same category as child pornography, CAN you believe it? Of course Aussies responded very well and this insane alternative media censorship stopped but that goes to show you what’s coming. We all know that our beloved Mr. Schmit was giving access to CIA to all our private data and searches talking about “open” mr sc(hmuck)! So no, I think that Steve doesn’t belong in the same profile category as M$ and Goggle’s CEO’s belong and I think people should no tolerate ANY corporation or ANY government to even TRY and control free Internet because IMO this is the biggest threat to free speech EVER! just my 2 cents…
Wu gives a fuck what he says!.
@ Big Als MBP & bbb: It’s nice to see that you have already drunk the cool-aid. Whatever the intention, Apple has considerable power over what content is available on your device(s). Or perhaps I should say, they control how it is delivered. The recent Flash debacle is a great example. I hate Flash just as much as the next guy, but there is still a lot of Flash content out there and you can’t view it on your iOS device. And now the MacBook Air doesn’t even ship with Flash installed. HTML 5 isn’t a standard yet and already Apple’s hand is being felt across the Net as sites convert their content to be compatible with iOS devices that don’t support Flash. That’s the power of Apple’s influence right now. I agree it isn’t all bad, but I do believe Tim Wu makes a thought-provoking point that many fanboys on this board aren’t going to stop to consider because of the knee-jerk reaction they’ll have to anything that isn’t in Apple’s favor. It’s one of the characteristics about a lot of Mac users that has always pissed me off. You guys are intelligent, so stop acting like a bunch of ignorant sheep being led to slaughter. How’s that for not being rational?
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Apple IS the new M$. Sad to have to say it, but it’s true.
steve32465:
Being king of the hill does not necessarily mean being the new Microsoft.
I don’t understand this so-called “control” Apple has over anything other than their own products. Apple doesn’t control the internet, media, or my life. They make computers and other electronic devices. They are free to do whatever they want with them just as we are free to buy them or not.
@ Tim: “Flash rant”
Apple wants to kill Flash because it’s a closed, proprietary platform that masquerades as part of an open web. It has no interest in controlling the content its user can view or not. This is proven in the fact that they recently approved a browser for iOS that allows Flash content to play.
Apple also doesn’t allow Silverlight on iOS devices or any other 3rd party run time. No one EVER seems to mention this when complaining about Apple’s anti-Flash stance.
…continued from above.
Apple is pushing HTML 5 so that all platforms can view the same content, not solely for the purpose of being able to view web pages on iOS devices. The irony here is that Apple is trying to level the playing field on the Internet, but being accused of trying to achieve some advantage or put others at a disadvantage.
Apple’s done this once before (also to the detriment of Adobe) when it produced TrueType to help the industry free itself from Postscript Type 1 licensing fees.
@ steve32465: “Apple IS the new M$. Sad to have to say it, but it’s true”
I find that people who say things like this, don’t really understand why Microsoft was considered such an awful, predatory company.
What a commie!