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20th Anniversary of the Dawn of Dot-Com

Posted by kdawson on from the fanfare-of-woodwinds dept.

btempleton writes "It was 20 years ago today when I posted to USENET the public launch of ClariNet, my electronic newspaper service delivered over the Internet. By finding a way around the NSFNet acceptable use policy, ClariNet was the first business founded to use the Internet as its platform for business, and the era of the 'dot-com' had begun. For the anniversary I have written a history of the founding of ClariNet and early internet business, which outlines how it all came down. Readers may also enjoy the included anecdote about what I term 'M5' reliability, where the news system was so robust that, like the M5 computer on Star Trek, even those authorized to do so were unable to shut it off; and a story of the earliest large SF eBook effort."

7 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. So we should blame you? by caerwyn · · Score: 4, Funny

    So in other words, we should ultimately blame you for the commercialization and spamming of the internet?

    I'm not sure you should have told us that...

    --
    The ringing of the division bell has begun... -PF
    1. Re:So we should blame you? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      This guy, whom you speak of, is Brad Templeton. He just so happens to also be the Chairman of the Board of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

      I think we owe him (and the EFF) a little gratitude for sticking up for all of us who want to use the internet in free and open ways, and NOT the manner in which corporations would prefer you to.

      I'm kinda glad he helped start the commercialization of the internet. And glad that he is also working hard to protect it as a medium of information exchange that we all value so much.

    2. Re:So we should blame you? by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Perhaps, but he sure was annoying back then.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  2. Sgt. Salt by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    "It was 20 years ago today..."

    Beatle plagiarist! I'm tellin' the RIAA!

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    Table-ized A.I.
  3. let's see how long 'first' lasts... by Josh+Coalson · · Score: 4, Funny

    the best way I know to find out you were not first at something is to post on slashdot that you were.

    --
    FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec
  4. Tooting One's Own Horn by courtarro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This story is all well and interesting, but I imagine it's impossible to prove that you're the first business to make money exclusively over the internet. You might be "one of the first", but to go all the way to the birth of my business represents the birth of dot-com is a bit vain, no?

  5. No, he's not. by actionbastard · · Score: 4, Informative

    This guy is.

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    Sig this!