Week 1: Copyright Issues Response 2

Week #1 Reading Copyright Issues by: Sandy Lopez

Wow! What a thorough discussion about copyright issues. I’ve never heard it explained so succinctly. There is certainly much that needs to be considered and I can see the “gray” areas, of copyright issues when it comes to creative license. I found the 10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained, (materials from Brad Templeton) which Joe explained so well. The reference sites, certainly give us a wealth of information to answer any questions we may have about getting our own creative work copyrighted, if we want to protect work. The subject is a complicated and the use of expanding technologies has confused the question about what is a violation of fair-use, copyright infringements and such. I found these videos to give us wonderful clarification about how and when we can use materials. The concepts that Larry Lessig shared In the TED Talk, gave us great food for thought, because our kids are creating and using these technologies to create and expand culture on a hugely global level. I’ve not thought much before about the concepts he shared as “reviving the read-write” philosophies. I’ve just recently learned about the “remix” culture through my 26-year-old son, and while the videos my sons shares with me (which are remixes of Disney materials, as well as others) are funny and entertaining, copyright permissions, were one of the first things I wondered about. Larry’s discussion gave us a great history lesson in the shift of culture and how our kids are using it. I am of the generation that was the passive group, observing history and our kids of today are the creators, using these new technologies to express themselves in wonderfully creative ways, which should not be hampered. His comment about “kids live life knowing they are living illegal”, struck me because if copyright issues change, they do not need to create in the shadows. The Creative Commons infrastructure is one way this can change, and was an interesting piece to learn about the different and many ways artists can create and still be protected. His solutions to allow artists to choose how their work should be used and business to embrace a philosophy of “freer content” make sense.

David Hotler said...
I like that you highlighted comments from Larry about children creating in the shadows and hiding these amazing works to avoid a lawsuit over a silly video that helped them sharpen their skills. How can these production companies expect to get great high level producers of digital media if kids never have the opportunity to practice and play growing up? Not every kid can afford a camera and a laptop, on top of that expense we drop the threat of copyright, and now we have squashed all creativity.

Also I am glad you at least mentioned Disney who is one of the largest thieves of all time. Stealing stories from the public domain and making billions of dollars on them while giving nothing back to the cultures and people who have kept them alive. Image them making a fairytale about your life and then saying they didn't owe you anything for it and oh, yeah, they own the rights to it so you have to buy a copy and can't do anything with it. Our country needs to take a serious look at our copyright laws and assess whether or not we are helping or hurting by only allowing the rich to create and protect.