The videos on copyright, fair use, and creative commons that were given to us for class contained a wealth of knowledge about copyright and what can be done without infringing upon it. As a Full Sail instructor, we always have to stress to our students just how important it is to be careful not to copyright infringe when they do their projects. It is especially true in this day and age when students are immersed in digital technology and the internet, they tend to think anything out on the internet is considered free use. That is why it is up to us as educators to guide them so that they understand what they can and cannot use out on the web.
On the flip side, however, copyright has gotten more stringent over the years to the point where anyone having an idea that is based off of a previous work, they have to jump through hoops to get permission and it might not even be guaranteed that they will. Before, copyright only lasted 14 years before becoming public domain, now it is lifetime plus 70 years for individuals and 100 years for companies. This change really hurt the creativity of people as our culture thrives on innovation and using what has come before us to improve our society. It was interesting to see how different countries handle the copyright, such as the video about Nigerian copyright and how theirs is much more lax so others can spread their creativity. I know that anytime I start looking at other people's work and think that I could compound on it and make something better out of it, I tend to hesitate as I know I would have to spend time trying to get permission to use it or be forced to have to make it fit within the narrow loophole in the copyright law. This strict way is what causes some of the piracy out there today as artists and creative thinkers are feeling stifled in their creativity.
This is why I like the idea of the Creative Commons. It ends up putting more control in the creator's hands than in the governments and gives others a way to be able to use others works as long as they abide by what the original creator set the Creative Commons as. It tends to keep things much more simpler and understandable for people so they can see exactly what they can and can't do with the work. I feel that this is a more suitable compromise to the copyright laws as most of the works that are under copyright are sitting gathering dust in a vault rather than being used to bring about more creativity and innovation for us. I think that if we educated more in this, not only would it lessen piracy on the internet, it would hopefully allow government to lighten the rules that binds so many creative works that are out there for others to use. I am all for protection against others from completely copying your work, but if they have an idea to use my work as a base to create their own, improved work, I feel that it should be allowed as long as they give credit for the original work.
Insightful commentary Kris.
ReplyDeleteYou approach the idea that if more artists contribute to/use Creative Commons licensing then less governmental control/oversight will be needed.
This is an interesting concept... In raising awareness about copyright issues, do you encourage your own students to share their artistic work under a Creative Commons license to help build momentum for the cause?