COMMONS/COMMODITY

Abstract

The development of digital technology and computer networks has enabled many kinds of online collaboration. This article examines Zimuzu, a Chinese case of online peer production that produces and distributes online Chinese subtitles of foreign media content. Zimuzu provides an opportunity to extend our understanding of how the tensions between the commodity and commons production models are being articulated in an online setting. Using empirical evidence collected from face-to-face interviews, online posts and online ethnographic observation, our analysis demonstrates that there is constant negotiation over which aspects of the two seemingly opposing models will be adopted by the community. We argue that it is important to conceptualize the peer production process as being influenced by power relations within and between the translation groups as well as between the groups and other commercial organizations.

Keywords:

• peer production
• commodity
• commons
• power

Notes

YDY is Yi Dian Yuan, which is Chinese for the Garden of Eden. YYeTS is ‘entertainment for everybody’. TLF is ‘the last fantasy’. 1000FR is ‘soft wind’.

The most popular instant messaging service in China.

‘Grave’ and ‘subtitle’ has the same pronunciation in Chinese although it is written with different characters.

The Berne Convention governs copyright, specifying that the translation right is a derivative right that has to be authorized by the right holder.

All interview quotes and online posting excerpts were translated from Chinese by the authors.

This term refers to those organized groups that distribute unauthorized copyright infringing content such as software, video games, movies, etc. This differs from P2P file sharing among friends or people with similar interests.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fei Wu

[email protected]