If you haven’t done so, go read a story that was run in the Hollywood Reporter: The SOPA War
btw – they changed it since I read the original, taking off the Sara Arnell’s campaign (those are her bulleted ideas below) thoughts and adding an opinion piece by a “top public affairs consultant“:
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Here’s a picture that the Hollywood Reporter put into it (from their online post). I’m don’t know how to credit the image, because they didn’t put one on their page. Nice way to disrespect the original creator by not acknowledging their identity.
Honestly, this is what the war of legislations is turning into on just about every topic, but especially the topic of Intellectual Property which has broad ramifications on personal liberty. What is causing this post is their solution to spin a message that will be a fresh sell for Hollywood. Things like a few ad campaign ideas suggested by Sara Arnell, CEO of the Arnell Group:
- DTCs (Digitally created copy): Killing Creativity (slogan – Protect your creativity)
- Occupy Creativity (slogan – We are the 30%)
These “campaigns” are supposedly aimed at respecting creativity. But if you look at the laws in this country and around the world regarding IPs, then you will see that there is little incentive to respect the creativity because it’s all about monetizing it. And this is where the arguments derail. Yes, there is a problem with piracy, but it’s been around in one form or another since as long as man has been on this planet. Do we really expect that a change to a technological venue will suddenly bankrupt a system that has been bankrupt for a millenea? Think about this: In order to win the royal navy wars, countries hired pirates to protect their ships while plundering in the name of their crown. For ages, governments have used mercenaries to fight for their side in exchange for money – it’s even happening today. Even as The Pirate Bay indicated, Hollywood bent rules in order to get to the top, and then made rules to prevent others from doing the same. Our history is all about piracy in its many forms.
We’re at a point in history where people no longer want to bargain for their rights. Everyone has equal rights, money be damned. It’s why we individuals have a broad range of talents that allow us to find unique niches to create. Not for money, not for fame, but because we need to create. It doesn’t make a difference whether you’re in the top stratus or the bottom: It’s your creation. And that’s what these laws that we create have forgotten: Since the beginning, it’s been about respecting the person who does the creating, and not just the creation. We’re able to make so many creations in one life time if we choose to do so. And it’s up to us to respect those creations. Not for the sake of what they’ll bring us, but for what they bring the world. This world is about sharing, because it’s a finite space with finite resources, and everyone has the right to exist here – respectfully.
I’m sorry, but those who try to make laws or try to benefit from a rigged system, are not part of the creation because they are part of the destruction. Yes, not respecting someone’s work is WRONG. But just because you made an original work doesn’t mean that you’re more special than the next person. We’re all capable of this act. We are already seeing what this blood-thirsty pursuit of money and status has gotten us. In case you didn’t notice, we’re in a global crisis because of these blinded stumblings on the edge of insanity.
If you all really want to work together, then actually give each person the opportunity to pursue their creations with the truest of intentions.
- Don’t throw copyright infringement at them – talk about how you can collaborate
- Don’t chase after cases for monetary gains or control – create a system that banks on true creativity with a responsible future
- Don’t file ridiculous patents that stop innovation – see how innovation does grow when concepts are shared
- Give the individual a venue and an agency that helps them spread their creation and make enough to continue
- Stop with the damn ad campaigns. Life is not a campaign – it’s a shared experience
- It’s not all about you. It’s about us, together.
You IP purists didn’t lose a campaign. You didn’t lose anything except for your pride. And the true creative lost that AND MORE ages ago. How is that respect? For those of you who still don’t get what PEOPLE are actually fighting for, read some books (history and everything else). Books, you know, those things that individuals make to impart something to one another. And check the information page for a Creative Commons mark. If it’s there, then you’re reading content from someone who does gets what this fight is all about.
Besides, it’s becoming clear that chasing after money above all else had led to this: At Davos, Big Issue of Haves vs Have Nots and Across The World, Leaders Brace For Discontent and Upheavel. I want to believe that the EU really does want to protect the Internet, but the way it’s being pushed is not offering any comfort. Don’t even get me started on how I feel about US corruption and ridiculous backroom deals between antiquated games of companies and countries.
