Copyright this!

As media evolves, it has grown into new mediums. From newspapers to radio to TV to the internet, we've seen the mediums of media continually evolve. As we deal with the internet, we've entered a brand new age of digital media. And, as such, we've also entered into an era of digital copyright.

Just who owns what? Well, the age-old assumption is that whoever created it, owns it. But on the internet, we've reached an age where ideas and media are created, edited, and evolve so quickly, that this may not truly apply. The dawn of Open Source software, a rich digital environment, and a beautiful level of collaboration has led to a people who have become less respectful for traditional copyright laws. Open source initiatives, like Creative Commons, have truly opened up our doors to these ideas.

There has always been a gray area within copyright law, but the wave of digital consumers have further created this gray area. There is no longer cut cases of copyright infringement when it comes down to the world wide web.

Furthermore, even in cases of clear copyright violations, tracking them down  is increasingly difficult due to the popularity of piracy. Even if they are clearly stealing movies, TV shows, video games, or other types of media - hunting down the consumers and prosecuting them is not always the best approach. After all, you're essentially targeting your own customers. Instead, people have turned to DRM, or Digital Rights Management, to hold onto their copyrights in the digital age.

What has led people to clearly violate copyright laws so frequently online? Many people steal media indiscriminately online, many without even knowing the consequences or that they're breaking the law. Some believe that copyright laws don't apply to them. Some simply enjoy the sport of pirating software, music, and more. But the environment that created such a mass frenzy of file sharing was created around the belief that media on the software should be free. This is a grand idea, and hopefully one that will be realized. But right now the new media enthusiasts and big media companies do battle in cyberspace over copyright law, and trying to find a compromise seems like a far fetched idea.

Creations like Hulu try to appease big media companies while still appealing to the mass majority of internet users and their belief that everyone on the internet should be free. They still make money, while not having a cost. Unfortunately, even ventures such as Hulu are turning into paid ventures, and many people may revert to piracy.

Matt Richards
COMM 203