Thu. 18th June, 2009 / 6:30pm

Tech. Innovation and Pornography — Lessons for the Internet Economy?

Speaker: Jonathan Coopersmith

Assoc. Prof. (History) at Texas A&M, 2008-9 visiting Fulbright researcher at Tokyo Institute of Technology

Pornography has been tightly intertwined with communications technologies since the invention of the printing press over 500 years ago. In the last few decades, the link has become even closer and in some ways more important in driving technology innovation. Consumers of pornography have accelerated the diffusion of new communication technologies like the VCR and Internet by becoming early adopters and users, providing a profitable market for these expensive technologies. In turn, these technologies grew into mass markets and are the backbone of the Internet economy today.

These new technologies have ‘democratized’ pornography by greatly reducing barriers to entry and transaction costs. As in other areas of Internet/on-line businesses, the distinction among producers, distributors and consumers has become increasingly blurred. The result, the evolution of pornography from a passive into an active experience, is occurring in other areas of the Internet economy too, especially music and video. The success of the pornography industry in its transition from analog to digital offers some sobering and surprising lessons for businesses basing their future on the Internet economy.

Date: Thursday, 18th June
Time: 18:30 open, 19:00 start, 20:30 end.
Venue: Foreign Correspondents' Club
Cost*: ¥4,000 ICA members,
¥6,000 non-members. Open to All.
*Light buffet dinner included.

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