Copyright and Ethics In Digital Age

Copyright and Ethics In The Digital Age

COM495Kathy E. Gill

Framing

Web 2.0 Technologies

Technologies change how we interact with (digital) cultural objects.

We are no longer merely a consumer; we can also be a producer.

This is a shift from the late 20th

century model:

In Our Digital World, It Is Easier to Borrow, Copy,

Manipulate

This means it is technically easier to express ourselves in new, creative ways.

The Clash

Culture as a freely flowing current of ideas and practices runs head first into culture as intellectual property

Ask permission each time

Ask permission each use

Framing

• A 10-minute explanation of copyright … using words from one of the largest (and most aggressive) copyright owners in the world

Terms: Copyright

• Copyright law protects “creative and expressive works”

• Automatic (do not have to file, register)

• Scope: http://copyright.gov/

• Does not extend to ideas or facts

How Long Does It Last?

In 1709, copyright lasted 14 years

Since 1978 copyright lasts for either the life of the author + 70 years or, in the case of work-for-hire, 95 years from publication or

125 years from creation

Controversy

Copyright purpose is to

“promote the progress of science and the useful arts” … and the duration for exclusivity is to

be “limited” … - US Constitution

Terms: Public Domain

When the copyright term expires, works revert to public domain.

The copyright holder may dedicate works to the public domain; eg, works funded by the US Government.

PD works are freely available for use by anyone for anything.

no rights reserved

all rights reserved

some rights

reserved

attribution

non-commercial

no derivative works

Ethics

• Value system by which a person determines what is right or wrong

• For bloggers:

• Be honest

• Be transparent

• Credit others

• Respect position of opponents

Digital technologies enable a "Tinkering

culture" -- a "read write rip burn culture"

The legal systemhas not yet

caught up withtechnology.

Sources• Copyright, Fair Use & The Evolution of Creative

Commons: http://www.slideshare.net/cliotech/copyright-the-evolution-of-creative-commonshttp:/www.slideshare.net/cliotech/copyright-the-evolution-of-creative-commons

• Copyright and Options for Creative Practitioners: http://www.slideshare.net/creativecommonsaustralia/creative-copyright-copyright-and-options-for-creative-practitioners

• A Fair(y) Use Tale: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

• Image: Consume. Be silent. Die. (unknown)

• Web 2.0 Image (1): http://joevans.pbwiki.com/Web+2+Point+O+Tools

• Kathy E. Gill

• http://wiredpen.com and http://faculty.washington.edu

• @kegill

• Some Rights Reserved: