Kopimism is a philosophy that considers copying and sharing of information to be intrinsically valuable, regardless of content. It views copying as a natural state of the universe and opposes monopolization of knowledge through copyright. However, others argue Kopimism is a sophistry designed to circumvent piracy laws and its claims of being a religion are a scam. While Kopimism promotes concepts like cooperation and creativity, its dogma and practices are questionable and copying without limits could enable harmful behaviors. Overall, Kopimism remains a controversial philosophy around information sharing and intellectual property.

1. #KOPIMISM CONSIDERED:
SOPHISTRY, SACRAMENT OR SCAM?
Aram Sinnreich
Rutgers University
School of Communication & Information
!
NCA Conference
Nov 21, 2013

2. WHAT IS KOPIMISM?

3. KOPIMIST DOGMA 101
•
There is an “intrinsic value of information . . . irrespective of its content.”
•
Kopimism is the “opposite of copyright religion.”
•
“No Kopimist is wholly self sufficient, each being just one component of an
interconnected and interdependent world”
•
“Kopimi is the natural state of the universe”
•
Kopimism is “just trying [to] fight against the monopolization of knowledge.”
•
Copymixing > Copying
•
“The internet is holy.”

4. SOPHISTRY?
Tt
EeCcRrEe
Ss
NnEeTt

5.
Our words shall, simultaneously, sound as
foolishness upon deaf ears and lovely
caresses to those who see and hear, but
above all: They should bite firmly into you –
and your mom.
!
100 roads to #g-d:
!
004. Experiment with research chemicals.
!
027. Give yourself cult status, and act
accordingly.
!
100. Be careful of burning kittens.

6. SACRAMENT?
Copying
Cooperation
Quality
Creativity

7. SCAM?
“This story . . . has
hoax written all over it.
Let’s be clear here. This
is a religion designed
to circumvent piracy
laws.
M.I.A.

8. CONCLUSION
“You who will transcribe this book, I
charge you, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ … compare what you
have copied against the original
and correct it carefully.
“the Author of any Book … shall
have the sole Right and Liberty
of Printing such Book and
Books for the Term of One and
twenty Years”
“‘Copy and Paste what
thou wilt’ shall be the
whole of the law.”

9. THANK YOU.
Aram Sinnreich
Rutgers University
School of Communication & Information
!
NCA Conference
Nov 21, 2013
!
Twitter: @aram
sinn@rutgers.edu