Volker Grassmuck | Leuphana University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Volker Grassmuck

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

The knowledge commons rests on the fundamental paradox of information goods: They are privately c... more The knowledge commons rests on the fundamental paradox of information goods: They are privately created with the intent of being published but, once published, they become part of general knowledge and open for all to reproduce and modify. Society created the social contract of copyright, granting a temporary privilege to authors in return for the publication of their works, because of its vital interest in these creations and an assumption that less will be produced if investments cannot be recouped. Thus, a paradox arises, as a result of the two mutually conflicting natures of information goods: As economic objects they need to generate revenues, which implies that free-riding through unpaid access, redistribution and the creation of derivatives of creative products must be excluded. As creative objects they necessarily build on the prior works of others and inspire new works by subsequent authors, meaning that an unbounded flow must be enabled to ensure a continuous creative process.Copyright law acknowledges this tension and attempts to strike a balance by, on the one hand, enabling commercial exploitation through exclusive rights and, on the other, limiting the duration of these rights and exempting certain forms of copying and reuse. The rise of cultural industries during the twentieth century has tilted the balance in favour of viewing information goods as economic objects. The digital revolution then reformulated the paradox on a new media technological level: information wants to be free and it wants to be expensive.

Social Science Research Network, 2010

Telecommunications Policy, Oct 1, 1995

This article is concerned with the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in Japan. It sketch... more This article is concerned with the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in Japan. It sketches the actors involved in ISDN networks and services and gives an account of their history, current status and realistic expectations. ISDN is developing steadily in Japan but at a pace that is confounding high initial expectations. The main impeding factors are the high investments with uncertain returns demanded from the privatized telecommunications industry, low interconnectivity and high prices of equipment, and competition from other technologies, media and services. ISDN is no longer considered as a goal in itself, but as a step to a fully digital multimedia infrastructure.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 28, 2022

Technically standardised interoperable telecommunications infrastructures are thus a foundation o... more Technically standardised interoperable telecommunications infrastructures are thus a foundation of both the Single Market and the digital European public sphere. 2.2 EU Law-making: Actors and Processes EU law is divided into primary legislation, i.e. the treaties which are the basis for all EU action, and secondary legislation, which includes regulations, directives and decisions. The three EU law-making bodies are the two legislators, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission which holds the right of legislative initiative. The European Parliament (EP) under the 1957 Treaty of Rome had only an advisory role in the legislative process. The Commission proposed and the Council adopted legislation. Originally, Members of the EP (MEPs) were appointed by the Member States' national parliaments, meaning that all MEPs had a dual mandate. In 1979, citizens of the then nine Member States of the Union

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Sep 13, 2022

epubli eBooks, Dec 1, 2012

In diesem Jahr ist viel passiert. Wir waren Beobachter und Akteur zugleich. Davon berichtet diese... more In diesem Jahr ist viel passiert. Wir waren Beobachter und Akteur zugleich. Davon berichtet dieses Buch. Viel Spaß beim Lesen.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Oct 29, 2021

of WSIS's stated goals is to examine ways to "protect the free flow of information and c... more of WSIS's stated goals is to examine ways to "protect the free flow of information and communication." Electronic communication systems made the free flows of information a technical possibility on a global scale for an unprecedented, though still insufficient, number of people. Numerous initiatives work to bridge the 'digital divide', to enlarge the number of people who have access to the means of communication. Despite these positive developments, open societies with free flows of information and the participation of people, face major dangers in the Information Age. These dangers not only stem from governments and pressure groups that limit the freedom of the media for political and economic reasons. These issues are urgent and they are well known and documented. Lesser known but at least as important is a more insidious barrier to the free flows of information: the emerging regimes of globally en-forceable Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) aiming at locki...

“I’m Alone, But Not Lonely” explores the rise of the ‘otaku’ as a phenomenon of 1980s Japanese yo... more “I’m Alone, But Not Lonely” explores the rise of the ‘otaku’ as a phenomenon of 1980s Japanese youth culture. Originally written in 1990 by sociologist Volker Grassmuck, the essay is published here for the first time as a beautifully designed and illustrated book. It includes a Preface by Paul O'Kane, a specially written introduction by the author, and original illustrations by manga artist Kengyuan Qiu.

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Oct 29, 2021

''Technologien für und wider Digitale Souveränität'' Die weltweite Vernetzung ist... more ''Technologien für und wider Digitale Souveränität'' Die weltweite Vernetzung ist die tiefgreifendste Veränderung seit der industriellen Revolution. In einer Zeit der maßlose Massenüberwachung scheint die Digitale Souveränität den Einsatz privatsphärenfreundlicher Technologien als ein unverzichtbarer Bestandteil von gesellschaftlichen Lösungsversuchen zwingend zu erfordern. In unserem Beitrag möchten wir hackerrelvante Teilaspekte und Verfahren aus einer Studie für das Bundesministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz vorstellen. Unter anderem sind hier kryptographische Protokolle (z. B. Blinde Signaturen, Zero-Knowlege Protokolle) und Methoden zur statistischen Auswertung von vertraulichen Daten (z.B. K-Anonymität, Differentielle Vertraulichkeit) zu nennen.

Die Netzgemeinde hat ein so komplexes und strenges Format wie eine Enzyklopädie hinbekommen, waru... more Die Netzgemeinde hat ein so komplexes und strenges Format wie eine Enzyklopädie hinbekommen, warum nicht auch Grundversorgung? Von allen? Braucht es nicht Experten, um den öffentlich-rechtlichen Auftrag qualitätvoll zu erfüllen? Dass eine Enzyklopädie nur von Experten geschaffen werden kann, war eine Selbstverständlichkeit -- bis die Wikipedia gezeigt hat, dass es auch anders geht. Freie Software und Wikipedia sind die spektakulärsten Beispiele für eine grundlegende gesellschaftliche Innovation, die aus der digitalen Revolution hervorgegangen ist: die Allmende-basierte Peer-Produktion (Yochai Benkler). Warum sollte auf die gleiche Weise nicht auch eine digitale Grundversorgung mit Medieninhalten möglich sein? WikiVision will dieser Frage experimentell nachgehen.

Die Bewegungen des Freien Wissens haben ein schwieriges Verhältnis zu formalen Organisationen, zu... more Die Bewegungen des Freien Wissens haben ein schwieriges Verhältnis zu formalen Organisationen, zu ihren eigenen und zu denen der öffentlichen Hand.

World-Information. Org Info-Paper for the World Summit …, 2003

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

The knowledge commons rests on the fundamental paradox of information goods: They are privately c... more The knowledge commons rests on the fundamental paradox of information goods: They are privately created with the intent of being published but, once published, they become part of general knowledge and open for all to reproduce and modify. Society created the social contract of copyright, granting a temporary privilege to authors in return for the publication of their works, because of its vital interest in these creations and an assumption that less will be produced if investments cannot be recouped. Thus, a paradox arises, as a result of the two mutually conflicting natures of information goods: As economic objects they need to generate revenues, which implies that free-riding through unpaid access, redistribution and the creation of derivatives of creative products must be excluded. As creative objects they necessarily build on the prior works of others and inspire new works by subsequent authors, meaning that an unbounded flow must be enabled to ensure a continuous creative process.Copyright law acknowledges this tension and attempts to strike a balance by, on the one hand, enabling commercial exploitation through exclusive rights and, on the other, limiting the duration of these rights and exempting certain forms of copying and reuse. The rise of cultural industries during the twentieth century has tilted the balance in favour of viewing information goods as economic objects. The digital revolution then reformulated the paradox on a new media technological level: information wants to be free and it wants to be expensive.

Social Science Research Network, 2010

Telecommunications Policy, Oct 1, 1995

This article is concerned with the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in Japan. It sketch... more This article is concerned with the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in Japan. It sketches the actors involved in ISDN networks and services and gives an account of their history, current status and realistic expectations. ISDN is developing steadily in Japan but at a pace that is confounding high initial expectations. The main impeding factors are the high investments with uncertain returns demanded from the privatized telecommunications industry, low interconnectivity and high prices of equipment, and competition from other technologies, media and services. ISDN is no longer considered as a goal in itself, but as a step to a fully digital multimedia infrastructure.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 28, 2022

Technically standardised interoperable telecommunications infrastructures are thus a foundation o... more Technically standardised interoperable telecommunications infrastructures are thus a foundation of both the Single Market and the digital European public sphere. 2.2 EU Law-making: Actors and Processes EU law is divided into primary legislation, i.e. the treaties which are the basis for all EU action, and secondary legislation, which includes regulations, directives and decisions. The three EU law-making bodies are the two legislators, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission which holds the right of legislative initiative. The European Parliament (EP) under the 1957 Treaty of Rome had only an advisory role in the legislative process. The Commission proposed and the Council adopted legislation. Originally, Members of the EP (MEPs) were appointed by the Member States' national parliaments, meaning that all MEPs had a dual mandate. In 1979, citizens of the then nine Member States of the Union

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Sep 13, 2022

epubli eBooks, Dec 1, 2012

In diesem Jahr ist viel passiert. Wir waren Beobachter und Akteur zugleich. Davon berichtet diese... more In diesem Jahr ist viel passiert. Wir waren Beobachter und Akteur zugleich. Davon berichtet dieses Buch. Viel Spaß beim Lesen.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Oct 29, 2021

of WSIS's stated goals is to examine ways to "protect the free flow of information and c... more of WSIS's stated goals is to examine ways to "protect the free flow of information and communication." Electronic communication systems made the free flows of information a technical possibility on a global scale for an unprecedented, though still insufficient, number of people. Numerous initiatives work to bridge the 'digital divide', to enlarge the number of people who have access to the means of communication. Despite these positive developments, open societies with free flows of information and the participation of people, face major dangers in the Information Age. These dangers not only stem from governments and pressure groups that limit the freedom of the media for political and economic reasons. These issues are urgent and they are well known and documented. Lesser known but at least as important is a more insidious barrier to the free flows of information: the emerging regimes of globally en-forceable Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) aiming at locki...

“I’m Alone, But Not Lonely” explores the rise of the ‘otaku’ as a phenomenon of 1980s Japanese yo... more “I’m Alone, But Not Lonely” explores the rise of the ‘otaku’ as a phenomenon of 1980s Japanese youth culture. Originally written in 1990 by sociologist Volker Grassmuck, the essay is published here for the first time as a beautifully designed and illustrated book. It includes a Preface by Paul O'Kane, a specially written introduction by the author, and original illustrations by manga artist Kengyuan Qiu.

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Oct 29, 2021

''Technologien für und wider Digitale Souveränität'' Die weltweite Vernetzung ist... more ''Technologien für und wider Digitale Souveränität'' Die weltweite Vernetzung ist die tiefgreifendste Veränderung seit der industriellen Revolution. In einer Zeit der maßlose Massenüberwachung scheint die Digitale Souveränität den Einsatz privatsphärenfreundlicher Technologien als ein unverzichtbarer Bestandteil von gesellschaftlichen Lösungsversuchen zwingend zu erfordern. In unserem Beitrag möchten wir hackerrelvante Teilaspekte und Verfahren aus einer Studie für das Bundesministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz vorstellen. Unter anderem sind hier kryptographische Protokolle (z. B. Blinde Signaturen, Zero-Knowlege Protokolle) und Methoden zur statistischen Auswertung von vertraulichen Daten (z.B. K-Anonymität, Differentielle Vertraulichkeit) zu nennen.

Die Netzgemeinde hat ein so komplexes und strenges Format wie eine Enzyklopädie hinbekommen, waru... more Die Netzgemeinde hat ein so komplexes und strenges Format wie eine Enzyklopädie hinbekommen, warum nicht auch Grundversorgung? Von allen? Braucht es nicht Experten, um den öffentlich-rechtlichen Auftrag qualitätvoll zu erfüllen? Dass eine Enzyklopädie nur von Experten geschaffen werden kann, war eine Selbstverständlichkeit -- bis die Wikipedia gezeigt hat, dass es auch anders geht. Freie Software und Wikipedia sind die spektakulärsten Beispiele für eine grundlegende gesellschaftliche Innovation, die aus der digitalen Revolution hervorgegangen ist: die Allmende-basierte Peer-Produktion (Yochai Benkler). Warum sollte auf die gleiche Weise nicht auch eine digitale Grundversorgung mit Medieninhalten möglich sein? WikiVision will dieser Frage experimentell nachgehen.

Die Bewegungen des Freien Wissens haben ein schwieriges Verhältnis zu formalen Organisationen, zu... more Die Bewegungen des Freien Wissens haben ein schwieriges Verhältnis zu formalen Organisationen, zu ihren eigenen und zu denen der öffentlichen Hand.

World-Information. Org Info-Paper for the World Summit …, 2003

Central European Journal of Communication, 2024

The increasing impact of algorithmically driven processes on human societies, which can exacerbat... more The increasing impact of algorithmically driven processes on human societies, which can exacerbate political, economic, and cultural asymmetries, raises questions about reducing human agency by constraining platform structures. We draw on the theoretical concept of algorithmic imaginary, which captures users' appropriations and ideas of these processes. In this paper, we focus on the dynamics between agency and structure in algorithmic imaginaries regarding the future of digital media platforms in Europe. The paper takes structuration theory as a theoretical starting point and employs methods of futures studies to analyze how the future is constructed in scenarios developed by a diversity of experts participating in a series of workshops. The future scenarios analysis is mapped around four actors, namely platform users, platform corporations, algorithms and institutions. By considering the role of various actors, particularly institutions, and their interdependencies this paper contributes to more balanced conceptualizations of algorithmic imaginaries, which tend to be centered around users' perspectives.