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Nov. 20th, 2004
Copyright Crap
Nov. 20th, 2004 02:59 pmI found a link to this article on the 8-Bit Theater page. If there's one thing we need in this country, it's stricter copyright laws!
I'm being sarcastic, of course. I think copyright law is already ridiculous. Take the copyright term lengths, for one thing. I think they've gone up to something like 75 years after the creator's death, or 95 years for works-for-hire. Is there really any reason why the creator's great-grandchildren should have control over something they had no hand in making? It isn't so much the heirs of private citizens with individual copyrights who are to blame here, though, but rather (surprise, surprise) huge corporations. It's no secret that the most recent copyright term extension was lobbied for when it looked like Mickey Mouse would be entering the public domain in a few years.
As for the file-sharing and bootlegging issues, they really seem to be cases of making mountains out of molehills, and finding convenient scapegoats. Is there any actual proof that anyone has lost money by someone downloading a song? I seriously doubt it, considering that there's no way you would have known whether that person was going to buy the album, or whether they already OWN the album, or, for that matter, whether an album even exists. Mind you, I can see how unregulated file-sharing could POTENTIALLY lead to abuse of the system and lost profits, but I'm not sure it has as of yet. With all the people who use file-sharing to sample songs by various artists, you have to wonder why more record labels don't just put up samples on their artists' websites. I've heard of cases where the labels actually OPPOSED such a thing, though, which makes absolutely no sense. I'm sure you've all heard the "record companies refuse to adapt to the changing times" argument a zillion times before, but I think it makes a good point. To me, though, I think the more important issue that it's not a big deal. Worth re-evaluating the industry, perhaps, but hardly worth getting the government involved.
I'd say I'm probably more against movie bootlegging, but even in that case I think the effects are being exaggerated. I mean, are there REALLY that many cases where someone says, "Well, I COULD see this movie on the big screen, and I have the money to afford to do that, but I think I'll just buy a poorly-filmed copy from the shady-looking vendor on the street instead"? Besides, haven't people been bootlegging movies for years? I don't think bootlegging is ever going to stop, no matter how many ten-year-olds get sued for downloading the latest Britney Spears song. [1]
What is the official purpose of the RIAA and MPAA, anyway? As of late, they seem to be essentially corporate-sponsored bullies. Their tactics are based on on a combination of fear ("Don't download stuff, or we'll COME AFTER YOU!") and forced pity ("If you download movies, this poor dolly grip will lose his job, and you don't want THAT to happen, do you?"), both of which are pretty sleazy. These are pretty common tactics nowadays, though. I mean, compare them to those used by the Bush campagin. "Voting for Kerry means terrorists will attack you!" and "Raising taxes on the top 2% of wage-earners will hurt SMALL BUSINESSES! You don't want to put your local mom-and-pop hardware store out of business, do you?" Those in power do what they can to help the huge corporations maintain a stranglehold on the nation, and then try to convince everyone else that this is GOOD for them. If the big corporations benefit, then EVERYBODY does! Trickle-down economics! After all, the business of America is business, right? Damn you, Calvin Coolidge! Why couldn't you have kept your mouth shut, like you did all the rest of the time?
Anyway, here are some quiz results:
( Read more... )
By the way, should I buy my own Game Boy Advance, or just borrow![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bethje's?
[1] Okay, maybe people who willingly listen to Britney SHOULD be legally reprimanded, but not for copyright infringement.
I'm being sarcastic, of course. I think copyright law is already ridiculous. Take the copyright term lengths, for one thing. I think they've gone up to something like 75 years after the creator's death, or 95 years for works-for-hire. Is there really any reason why the creator's great-grandchildren should have control over something they had no hand in making? It isn't so much the heirs of private citizens with individual copyrights who are to blame here, though, but rather (surprise, surprise) huge corporations. It's no secret that the most recent copyright term extension was lobbied for when it looked like Mickey Mouse would be entering the public domain in a few years.
As for the file-sharing and bootlegging issues, they really seem to be cases of making mountains out of molehills, and finding convenient scapegoats. Is there any actual proof that anyone has lost money by someone downloading a song? I seriously doubt it, considering that there's no way you would have known whether that person was going to buy the album, or whether they already OWN the album, or, for that matter, whether an album even exists. Mind you, I can see how unregulated file-sharing could POTENTIALLY lead to abuse of the system and lost profits, but I'm not sure it has as of yet. With all the people who use file-sharing to sample songs by various artists, you have to wonder why more record labels don't just put up samples on their artists' websites. I've heard of cases where the labels actually OPPOSED such a thing, though, which makes absolutely no sense. I'm sure you've all heard the "record companies refuse to adapt to the changing times" argument a zillion times before, but I think it makes a good point. To me, though, I think the more important issue that it's not a big deal. Worth re-evaluating the industry, perhaps, but hardly worth getting the government involved.
I'd say I'm probably more against movie bootlegging, but even in that case I think the effects are being exaggerated. I mean, are there REALLY that many cases where someone says, "Well, I COULD see this movie on the big screen, and I have the money to afford to do that, but I think I'll just buy a poorly-filmed copy from the shady-looking vendor on the street instead"? Besides, haven't people been bootlegging movies for years? I don't think bootlegging is ever going to stop, no matter how many ten-year-olds get sued for downloading the latest Britney Spears song. [1]
What is the official purpose of the RIAA and MPAA, anyway? As of late, they seem to be essentially corporate-sponsored bullies. Their tactics are based on on a combination of fear ("Don't download stuff, or we'll COME AFTER YOU!") and forced pity ("If you download movies, this poor dolly grip will lose his job, and you don't want THAT to happen, do you?"), both of which are pretty sleazy. These are pretty common tactics nowadays, though. I mean, compare them to those used by the Bush campagin. "Voting for Kerry means terrorists will attack you!" and "Raising taxes on the top 2% of wage-earners will hurt SMALL BUSINESSES! You don't want to put your local mom-and-pop hardware store out of business, do you?" Those in power do what they can to help the huge corporations maintain a stranglehold on the nation, and then try to convince everyone else that this is GOOD for them. If the big corporations benefit, then EVERYBODY does! Trickle-down economics! After all, the business of America is business, right? Damn you, Calvin Coolidge! Why couldn't you have kept your mouth shut, like you did all the rest of the time?
Anyway, here are some quiz results:
( Read more... )
By the way, should I buy my own Game Boy Advance, or just borrow
bethje's?[1] Okay, maybe people who willingly listen to Britney SHOULD be legally reprimanded, but not for copyright infringement.
I've done this before, but since jazzsammich did it again, I figured I might as well follow his example. Then I'll follow him in jumping off a bridge.
A) Recommend to me:
1. a movie:
2. a book:
3. a musical artist, song, or album:
B) I want everyone who reads this to ask me three questions, no more, no less.
C) If you are up to it, copy and paste this into YOUR livejournal and allow your friends the same pleasure.
jazzsammich did it again, I figured I might as well follow his example. Then I'll follow him in jumping off a bridge.A) Recommend to me:
1. a movie:
2. a book:
3. a musical artist, song, or album:
B) I want everyone who reads this to ask me three questions, no more, no less.
C) If you are up to it, copy and paste this into YOUR livejournal and allow your friends the same pleasure.