Simon Higgs
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Simon Robert Higgs (born July 24, 1964) is the founder of Higgs Communications and author of the Higgs' Laws series.
In 1994, he founded internet start-up CouponNet, winning the CommerceNet '96 VIP Award for Best Online Community.
Also in 1994, he became the first applicant to IANA for a new top level domain [1] (http://www.gtld-mou.org/gtld-discuss/mail-archive/00990.html). In 1995, working under the direct guidance of Jon Postel, he wrote several notable Internet Drafts, which, while not being published as an RFC, first defined the domain name Registry/Registrar relationship. Some of this work is documented in Milton L. Mueller's book Ruling the Root: Internet Governance and the Taming of Cyberspace published by MIT Press. He is a founding member of the Open Root Server Confederation, and maintains an ORSC root nameserver.
He co-produced Unicorn's Cosmic Storyteller CD [2] (http://www.cosmicstoryteller.com), which was released in 2001 by Platform Records.
In 2004, he wrote The Guide To Selling Your Music In The iTunes Music Store (http://www.higgs.com/publications/itunes-guide.html) (ISBN 0-9754650-0-7), which is primary aimed at music producers, artists and independant record labels.
Simon Higgs originated the "Higgs' Laws" series in 1993. The laws define the minimum elements needed for true convergence between the telecommunications, computer and entertainment industries.
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Higgs' First Law Of Convergence
All bandwidth is bi-directional. That is the available bandwidth from A to B is the same as from B to A. Upstream and downstream pathways must be symmetrical to allow the same type of transmission (such as video-telephony) in both directions.
- Author's note: Hardware designs are often engineered for asymmetrical use. 56k modems and ADSL are a good examples. However, for convergence to happen, open voice/video communication requires the use of the same protocol in both directions. For that to happen this law becomes true.
Higgs' Second Law Of Convergence
Technology is a tool. It does not discriminate between good uses and bad uses. Legislating against technology to prevent crime will have the adverse effect of making legal uses of technology completely illegal.
Higgs' Third Law Of Convergence
All copyrighted works ultimately become Public Domain works. When the copyrights expire, Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems must be made to release copyrighted works back into the Public Domain.
External links
- http://www.simonhiggs.com - personal web page
- http://www.higgs.com - Higgs Communications