In chapter 7 of Lessig’s Remix, we learn about both commercial and shared economies. Lessig describes commercial economies as those that build their value, starting with funds. In contrast to that is a shared economy. A shared economy is what Lessig describes as an economy that builds value without regard to money.
He explains that both of these described economies are crucial to life, “both online and offline” (177).
This distinction between the two economies seems vastly important to what Lessig is saying here, due to his concept of a “hybrid economy.” A hybrid economy is exactly what it sounds like—a hybrid between a shared economy and a commercial economy. This hybrid would build upon both economies, to create one that would “dominate.”
When looking back to what we have read so far, we know that one of Lessig’s main goals is to explain how the past teaches us about value of a remix, yet the present teaches us about the new “hybrid economy.” The future will benefit both commerce and community. His website states, “that future will benefit…if the lawyers could get out of the way, it could be a future we could celebrate” (Lessig).
His title even alludes to this “hybrid economy,” which is clearly one of his main points. That is what makes his explanations of commercial and sharing economies so crucial. That distinction is what makes a hybrid economy.
I'm glad you spied his website. That being said, I'd be curious to hear you say a bit more about how the hybrid will benefit commerce and community? What does Lessig think and what do you think? Or is it mostly that he uses it to argue to the powers-that-be that remix culture can actually make money?
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