I do not believe in spending a colossal amount of money in buying original records or movies when the cheaper version is available, most of the time for ‘free.’ Unfortunately, for the artists that produce goods and fortunately for the existence of file sharing and high speed internet connections, many people shamelessly share my ‘free-bie’ attitude.
While creator’s feel that without copyright laws their ‘creations’ are not been protected, the public feel that copyright laws restrict their access to such materials. Hence, it is a ‘tug-of-war’ between the context creators and the public.
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights regulating the use of a particular expression of an idea or information. At its most general, it is literally "the right to copy" an original creation (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of this law is to advance the progress of science and the useful arts to benefit the public (Russell, 2003). Not all work is protected by copyright and this falls into the public domain. Here we would not need permission to use the material in any manner. However, if a person reproduces or publicly displays a piece of work that is exclusively owned by an author/creator, that person would be infringing on the author’s copyright (Ovalle, 2005). If the author were to sue the person this would result in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
While creator’s feel that without copyright laws their ‘creations’ are not been protected, the public feel that copyright laws restrict their access to such materials. Hence, it is a ‘tug-of-war’ between the context creators and the public.
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights regulating the use of a particular expression of an idea or information. At its most general, it is literally "the right to copy" an original creation (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of this law is to advance the progress of science and the useful arts to benefit the public (Russell, 2003). Not all work is protected by copyright and this falls into the public domain. Here we would not need permission to use the material in any manner. However, if a person reproduces or publicly displays a piece of work that is exclusively owned by an author/creator, that person would be infringing on the author’s copyright (Ovalle, 2005). If the author were to sue the person this would result in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
If one were to argue from a copyright holder’s perspective, it seems unjust to have to share material one has created and owns the rights to, with the public, without getting any income. It is believed that, regardless of contemporary advances in technology, copyright remains the fundamental way by which authors, sculptors, artists, musicians and others can fund the creation of new works, and that without legal protection of their future income, many valuable books and artworks would not be created. Thus, it is practical and fair that copyright laws exist and are so stringent. On the other hand, critics say that the concepts of the public domain and the freedom of information are necessary precepts for creators to be able to build on published expression. But they say that these are gradually being eroded, as copyright terms are repeatedly extended to last beyond the lifetime of the audience which experienced and knows of the original work (Wikipedia, 2007).
In recent times, with more people adapting to the ‘virtual world’, copyright holders are less keen on making their copyrighted material available to the public in digital formats unless the law is revised and access to material is controlled. Due to file sharing, which is the practice of making files available to other users over the internet or smaller networks, copyrighted works copied into digital media are easily and exactly copied. Producers of copyrighted material blame this for the decline of their sales, although they generally continue to produce material and make profits. Some artists are even known to support file sharing saying that this expands their popularity and audience. Since many users use file sharing to download copyrighted materials without permission (piracy), copyright owners have begun to attack file sharing in general. Ironically however, studies have shown that album sales have increased in this most recent past while the growth of file sharing has continued abated (Oberholzer-Gee & Strumpf, 2005).
To satisfy both the context creators and publics’ interests relative to copyrighting, a compromise has to be reached. Unlike copyright, copyleft is the practice of using copyright law to remove restrictions on distributing copies and modified versions of a work for others and requiring that the same freedoms be preserved in modified versions.
Authors use copy left to allow anyone to use, share and improve the work as a continuing process, disallowing people from sharing derived works with any new restrictions (Stallman, 2006).
Technologically the world has advanced to an extent that anything possible. Although the debate between the copyright holders and general public is hot at the moment, it would be accurate to say that people will find some means of satisfying both groups and subsiding the issue. Even though we see that firm measures have been taken to punish “breakers of the law”, “piracy” is at its best form and artists have not stopped producing quality goods. Would it be a battle between “All rights reserved” and “All rights reversed” or would technology win over and make peace between the parties?
In recent times, with more people adapting to the ‘virtual world’, copyright holders are less keen on making their copyrighted material available to the public in digital formats unless the law is revised and access to material is controlled. Due to file sharing, which is the practice of making files available to other users over the internet or smaller networks, copyrighted works copied into digital media are easily and exactly copied. Producers of copyrighted material blame this for the decline of their sales, although they generally continue to produce material and make profits. Some artists are even known to support file sharing saying that this expands their popularity and audience. Since many users use file sharing to download copyrighted materials without permission (piracy), copyright owners have begun to attack file sharing in general. Ironically however, studies have shown that album sales have increased in this most recent past while the growth of file sharing has continued abated (Oberholzer-Gee & Strumpf, 2005).
To satisfy both the context creators and publics’ interests relative to copyrighting, a compromise has to be reached. Unlike copyright, copyleft is the practice of using copyright law to remove restrictions on distributing copies and modified versions of a work for others and requiring that the same freedoms be preserved in modified versions.
Authors use copy left to allow anyone to use, share and improve the work as a continuing process, disallowing people from sharing derived works with any new restrictions (Stallman, 2006).
Technologically the world has advanced to an extent that anything possible. Although the debate between the copyright holders and general public is hot at the moment, it would be accurate to say that people will find some means of satisfying both groups and subsiding the issue. Even though we see that firm measures have been taken to punish “breakers of the law”, “piracy” is at its best form and artists have not stopped producing quality goods. Would it be a battle between “All rights reserved” and “All rights reversed” or would technology win over and make peace between the parties?
Reference:
Oberholzer-Gee, Felix & Strumpf, Koleman. (2005). The Effect of File Sharing on Record Sales, An Empirical Analysis. Retrieved February 2, 2007, from
http://www.unc.edu/~cigar/papers/FileSharing_June2005_final.pdf
Ovalle, C. (2005). “What is copyright?” University of Texas at Austin, Course INF 312. Information in Cyberspace. Retrieved on February 2, 2007, from
http://sentra.ischool.utexas.edu/~i312co/3.php
Stallman, Richard. (2006). “What is copyleft?”. Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA. Retrieved on February 2, 2007 from
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/copyleft.html
Russell, Carrie. (2003). Libraries in Today's Digital Age: The Copyright Controversy. Retrieved on February 3, 2007, from
http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/copyright.html
File sharing: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia foundation Inc. (2007). Retrieved on February 2, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing#Copyright_issues
1 comment:
Good writeup on copyright and other viable solutions such as copyleft. Isn't copyright funny business? I mean, copyleft, all rights reversed... it's pretty hilarious if you ask me. Fine, don't laugh.
Here's your full grade for being spot on.
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