Month 11 Week 1- Copyright issues
What's the real deal?
A Fair(y) Use Tale explained it best. The video was to the point but quite disjointed. I guess I don't really have an opinion one way or the other about the copyright issues. On some level I understand it. The artists and their management team want all the financial gains that I guess are rightfully theirs. But as was stated by some in the Good Copy, Bad Copy video, the main people who are sampling and pirating are the artists fans.
These kinds of copyright violations are ways that poor people make money and are able to feed their families. Why has the law changed from 14 years to 'forever' now anyway? Who is really making the big bucks behind this? Yes, these artists are losing revenue, but why not let others reap a little bit too? I heard something once about Li'l Wayne 'giving' his work away on the Internet, yet he's still making money. If that is the case, then I think there is much more going on.
How can they (the US, it seems) prohibit people in other countries from doing what they are doing? Like Charles Igwe said, "how can you be bigger than me and smaller than me at the same time?" The article on, 'US government finally admits most piracy estimates are bogus', clearly shows that there is more to this issue than meets the eyes and the ears.
I don't get the big deal. I kind of understand getting permission to use someone's work before you make it into a money making venture for yourself. But how much would they want from what these fans or poor people are making and, is it only the original artist that these 'entrepreneurs' would have to split the money with?
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/en//id/187
Hi Nykoll;
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, music has become too much of a "business" than "music". The Internet has become a big place where artists can promote their work and still make a profit. The problems is, I think, that record companies are losing their grip on the artist output, without the consent of managers or the record companies. Artists/musicians, can make the record they want, the style or genre of music they like and still get approval by us, the fans. I think that same thing happens with independent filmmakers. They can do great movies or shorts without giving away their rights or a big part of the revenue to the big movie studios. Check on You Tube all the fan based movies. The quality of the image as well as sound and special effects are great.
I think that the extension of copyright law is a way to guarantee that the record companies or film studios can still profit from the musicians/actors/filmmakers for years and years.
Hey Rodolfo,
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you. It is 'the big wigs' who are losing out in all of this creativity and he will not let go so easily. But this type of energy will not be stopped. Isn't it something? Music as business, instead of the sheer joy and love and sharing that it once was...
Comment to Nykoli Hyatt “What’s the real deal”
ReplyDeleteFirst, I have to say that the focus could have been on one or two videos, sort of like a compare/contrast about copyright. I suggest this because it seems like you have much to say on the elements of the TED video and the Good Copy, Bad Copy one. This could be possibly expanded in another blog post as a way to continue the conversation per se.
I like how you pointed out the importance of the balancing between the needs of the artist and the people/fans when it comes to things like sampling or pirating. Lessig bought up this issue of balance in his video. It goes to show that not only do you need to look at the financial element but the social and government ones as well. The copying and sampling is a way to give and take and due to the updates in technology. However, it has been more of a taking of artists’ work rather than an asking and then sharing event. Hopefully, as technology continues to grow and change like people those certain restrictions will be flexed to address those needs and the consequences.
Thanks Dara for your suggestion. I will keep that in mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is more of a taking as opposed to asking and I agree that (here in the US) it copyright is a defensible action. But, what about other countries that might not have agreements with the US? That was touched upon in the Good Copy, Bad Copy video.
Excellent questions and observations on the copyright issues mess. On the media company's defense, they are the ones making a financial investment to help produce the work and promote the work. So they should make money on their investment. Funny thing is that, the one traditionally not making money in this system, is the actual artist who does the work. Then artists like Lil' Wayne has already built a huge following, so theoretically doesn't need the record company's advertising support, so he can "afford" to "give it away," because his fans will spend more money going to his concerts and buying his merchandise. It's an interesting problem.
ReplyDelete