Don't Mess With Success: Government Technology Mandates and the Marketplace for Online Content

In Las Vegas each January, the International Consumer Electronics Show features a huge display of new innovative computer and consumer electronics devices. These devices range from MP3 players that fit in the palm of your hand to car stereo speakers so large they can only fit in the trunk. This year’s show was the biggest ever – taking up not only the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, but several adjoining buildings as well. But while the show’s sheer size is noteworthy, what made the 2006 “CES” truly unique were the newly forged partnerships between technology companies (consumer electronics and computer companies) and content companies (the movie studios and record companies). While the tech and content industries tend to be at odds over issues like copyright and technology mandates, there appeared to be a détente in this post-MGM v. Grokster era. Content providers and electronics makers showcased a slew of partnerships and innovative devices at the 2006 CES: