#INM380
Session 4
This week we focused on the ethics and moral considerations of copyright within publishing and how it relate to our understanding of 'the death of the @uthor' as librarians.
We were challenged to consider whether copyright is always applicable in all situations especially when the infringement is so slight and not at all disruptive to copyright holders' income. We were shown examples of when people - who did not set out to rip off anyone - faced fines / criminal investigation and removal of content after post material that included copyrighted material. These examples (the librarians and the mother, see links below) showed times when 'fair dealing' can be considered a needed concept as these individuals did little to no harm to the copyright holder's finances.
As said at the beginning of 'Steal This Film II' (2007): "This is not a film about piracy... This is not a film about sharing files... It's a film that explores [massive] changes in the way we produce, distribute and consume media"
I was also very glad to hear about Larry Lessig who advocates for progressive copyright laws and has been a major participant in the creative commons movement. As someone who strongly believes in the creative force of sharing and the history of replication / re appropriation / and adaptation in the evolution of art practices, our shared culture exists because we are able to take ideas (that haven't been claimed by intellectual property) and change them for our own end.
Take Sir Tim Berners-Lee's example. Instead of cashing in on the world wide web he gave it to the world for free. That isn't to say that I am against intellectual property full-stop. There are many musicians/composers who would have been left penniless if it wasn't for royalty cheques - I'm thinking more blues artists, less beatles....(more little guy, less rich establishment).
However, when large corporations with teams of lawyers can go after private individuals who have not profited from copyright infrighments, the scales of balance seem a bit off.
After reading the review of the book of piracy, I got it out from our university library and will read it when I next get a chance. In the mean time I'm making headway with Lessig youtube videos. He may just be my new personal hero...
As said at the beginning of 'Steal This Film II' (2007): "This is not a film about piracy... This is not a film about sharing files... It's a film that explores [massive] changes in the way we produce, distribute and consume media"
I was also very glad to hear about Larry Lessig who advocates for progressive copyright laws and has been a major participant in the creative commons movement. As someone who strongly believes in the creative force of sharing and the history of replication / re appropriation / and adaptation in the evolution of art practices, our shared culture exists because we are able to take ideas (that haven't been claimed by intellectual property) and change them for our own end.
Take Sir Tim Berners-Lee's example. Instead of cashing in on the world wide web he gave it to the world for free. That isn't to say that I am against intellectual property full-stop. There are many musicians/composers who would have been left penniless if it wasn't for royalty cheques - I'm thinking more blues artists, less beatles....(more little guy, less rich establishment).
However, when large corporations with teams of lawyers can go after private individuals who have not profited from copyright infrighments, the scales of balance seem a bit off.
After reading the review of the book of piracy, I got it out from our university library and will read it when I next get a chance. In the mean time I'm making headway with Lessig youtube videos. He may just be my new personal hero...
