QotW3: File-sharing Era

Introduction

Even though copyright has existed in few decades back, the importance of it just came to the surface since the beginning era of file-sharing through the Internet.

What is copyright?

Copyright is meant to give creators exclusive rights to their creations. However, it is only applicable for tangible creations (Ovalle, 2005). It means, no idea can be copyrighted. There are few exemptions of how copyright can be applied. Private use and education purpose are examples of how people can use things without no worry of being sued because of the copyright issue.

The Phenomenon

In the late 90s, there was a big phenomenon of a case which is said as against the law of copyright. Remember Napster, a file-sharing software which was brought to the Internet by Shawn Fanning in June 1, 1999. It allowed people to share their file within all Napster users, using the system of P2P (peer to peer). It means people can download from many sources rather than just one. Downloading became faster, easier, and the most important that it was free. Everybody started using Napster just in few weeks after it was launched.

Despite its popularity among its users, artists and creators did not happy about its existance. In the year 2000, a band called Metallica sent a lawsuit to Napster regarding of copyright issue. Their demo song, 'I Dissapear', had been circulating among Napster users before they actually released it to the public. And the worst thing was that it was also played in several radio stations. After the band Metallica, Napster also being sued by several artists. Finally in July 2001, Napster shut down its network regardless of the disappoinment of its users.

Questions!

How often do we see pirated CDs, DVDs, or any pirated goods being sold for the public? Do we own one of them? Are you one of them who prefer buying pirated goods rather than the original?? How much do you value copyright?

Copyright Issue in Our Society

I found a lot of cases where people burn CDs and sell it for the sake of their own. In my point of view, this is certainly against the law of copyright. It is stated that no commercial use can be used for copying things which are copyrighted. As we can see in its "fair use" exemption, we can use it for private use. So, how about downloading songs from limewire, a look-like-napster software which is available now?

People are still debating about this copyright issue. Some of them think that it is useless since people can still get access to it. And the fact is that original things cost a lot! Creators themselves still think that if their customers value copyright by not buying pirated goods, they also gain benefits by giving creators a chance to express their creativeness in the future creations. I do think that creators need copyright, but i also think that even though there are many people out there buy pirated goods, the fact is that the creators still producing some creations. So, what can we do now?

Solution

The only way I can think about it to let creators discussed this issue to the "download server" like limewire or something like that. They can use this medium as the way they advertise their creations. Maybe not the access to download all songs, just one or two. So it's like the teaser for people to buy the original CD. In this way, both sides can gain benefit.

References:

Copyright. In Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2.24, February 3, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org

Napster. In Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10.37, February 3, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org

Ovalle, Carlos. (2005). “An Introduction to Copyright". Retrieved on February 2, 2007
from http://sentra.ischool.utexas.edu/%7Ei312co/1.php