Anyone who is looking at original creative works has seen this logo. It signifies that the work is protected by the laws that cover copyright to protect the creator’s work. As a writer who writes original content, I use this on my work as an identifier that I’m the original creator. And yet, I have misgivings when applying this logo for a multitude of reasons.
- I write so that I can share my work. Of course, I want to be attributed to my original works, but not to the extent that others cannot build off of it. This is part of the Fair Use Doctrine.
- My work for sale is different from my work for share, and yet they are both original. Much of my past work for sale was done for a third party and provides them protection, but does nothing for me unless I negotiate it into my contract (typically for my portfolio use). So the law protects my employer for the time period, and allows them the freedom to pursue infringement actions even though they technically weren’t the original creator.
- In my eyes, the copyright system no longer serves as adequate protection that allows the original creator to obtain income from that creation. The “middle-man” is now the beneficiary that reaps the rewards at the expense of the hard working creative.
- The purity of the creative work is becoming bastardized for the pursuit of profits. The vision is being corrupted by a tainted obsessive view of life-long windfalls, which is the wrong motivation for having original thought. Of course, this is MY opinion.
But when an entire continent is motivated to review the aging and ineffective system, then perhaps it’s time for those of us who use this copyright system to start looking for ways to ensure protection and fairness without having a skewed sense of entitlement for our work. Yes, making an original isn’t easy. We can all testify to this act. But when our individual expectations outweigh the worldwide common good simply because it’s hard work, then it’s way past time to fix this flawed system.
There’s a statistic being quoted by the EC’s Commissioner for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, that shows further evidence that our antiquated system of remuneration is flawed, “1000 euros a month is not much to live off. Often less than the minimum wage. But most artists, and not only the young ones at the early stages of their career, have to do so. Half the fine artists in the UK, half the “professional” authors in Germany, and, I am told, an incredible 97.5% of one of the biggest collecting society’s members in Europe, receive less than that paltry payment of 1000 euros a month for their copyright works.” She also says, “Legally, we want a well-understood and enforceable framework. Morally, we want dignity, recognition and a stimulating environment for creators. Economically, we want financial reward so that artists can benefit from their hard work and be incentivised to create more.”
Does this sound like a working system to you? The statistics may be for the EU, but it’s no different in any country. Here’s an interesting commentary from the Progress Report that disagrees that copyright should be extended in order to benefit those middlemen who are lining the pockets of our politicians to shift the playing board (again). Especially when it limits creative innovation which is what brightens our futures.
Now, the middlemen such as MPAA are trying to push this flawed copyright system onto a free Internet so that they can continue to pursue their ill-gotten profits. SOPA and Protect IP are two bills that you’ve heard me talk about for a while, because I think that our government is playing a dangerous game of profiteering at the expense of Net Neutrality. If it wasn’t for flawed legislative and corporate actions such as this, I think the Net would be safely maintained by all of the netizens who wish to keep our worldwide communication line open and free for us all.
But there are those who don’t value freedom as much as they say, and this is why we have to stand up and protect freedom on the Net. We’re the ones who are creating the Net as a land where we can pursue our interests without interference, as long as we are all doing so responsibly and democratically. Today, 11/29, is another call to arms to protect our free Internet. Already the world is standing up against this breach by the US government, as it joins a growing list of countries that it has denigrated until now for their censorship activities. If these laws pass here, then the US will be hypocritical in its call for democracy, when it is clearly taking away basic human rights for a few bucks that will be handed to the middlemen who are already irresponsibly killing this world that we’re trying to make beautiful. Don’t let it happen. Sign a petition or two. Call your Congressmen. Tweet Congress. Write a blog. Just speak out against this blatant attack on our democratic ways. Freedom is depending on you.
p.s.. Thank politicians such as Ron Wyden, Darrell Issa, Nancy Pelosi, and Ron Paul who were among the first to stand up against SOPA. As well as this growing list of opponents.
