Lab Exercise_Technology & Political Economy

Lab Section Exercise: Technology & Political Economy

In mass lecture, we are talking about the theory of political economy. According to the theory, the relationship between economy and politics is dialectic. Economy (substructure) determines politics (superstructure), and politics influences economy. Technology fits into this relationship as a critical driver of a country’s economy. Therefore, technology development shapes formation of national ICT policy; while, the ICT policy regulates technology development.

Meanwhile, three general laws of dialectics are played out in the dynamics of political economy. They are 1) transformation from quantity to quality, 2) unity of opposites, and 3) thesis-antithesis-synthesis.

In this lab exercise, we are going to apply the theory of political economy to do a case study about DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and its application on TAMU campus. The case study is posted on http://itim.tamu.edu/filesharing.html.

In this case study, you need to explore the following questions:

v What challenges do P2P (peer-to-peer) technology bring to copyright protection on the Internet?
v How do DMCA regulate the use of P2P technology?
v Considering P2P technology as substructure and DMCA as superstructure, please explore their relationship.
v See if three laws of dialectics are played out in the relationship between P2P technology and DMCA. How?
v Make comments on DMCA and TAMU’s campus regulations. For example, do you agree or disagree with them? Are they fair to individual Internet users or copyright holders?
v Whose interests do DMCA reflect and protect? How could DMCA be made to represent and protect their interests? How about the other people’s interests, which are overlooked by DMCA?
v If you are a policy-maker, what kind of policy do you want to create to regulate P2P technology? Why?

You are encouraged to collect related information on the Internet to support your arguments. The total length should not exceed 500 words.