The “rise” and “fall” of the MP3scene: A Global and Virtual Organization An organizational, social relational and technological analysis Research thesis June 2009 Student: Jan Adriaan van der Wal Study: Information Science Mentor: dr. Ard Huizing Abstract. The scene, a synonym for the ‘Warez’1 scene, is a global and virtual organization where people copy, crack and distribute copyrighted digital material. The scene is split up into different areas, each with its own specific organizational structure, genre and practice. Amongst these areas are the games, MP3 (music), movies and software scene. The scene is a quite closed and fairly unknown organization that operates on the Internet. Unique organizational structures and many complex social relational and technological processes make this organisation an interesting phenomenon to study. This research is aimed at the MP3scene and describes the development and evolution from the start until its state today from an academic point of view. The objective of this research is to gain more insights in the ongoing organizational, social relational and technological processes within a global and virtual organization like the MP3scene. Acknowledgement. Individuals: Ard H., Steven G., Paul G., Bart B., Lir, D.H., xenner, toma, ktaakt. Groups: MS, MiM, SE Keywords: community, practice, emerging, structure-agency, complex global microstructures, sociality, institutionalizing, engagement, identity, social learning, passion and anarchy Author: J.A. van der Wal,
[email protected] 1 ‘Warez’ is a term to define pirated material. Tetzlaf, D. (2000). Yo-Ho-Ho and a Server of Warez: Internet Software Piracy and the New Global Information Economy. In A. Herman, & T.