“An endless stream of created work, some professional, some amateur, all trying to motivate people to act and to believe differently.”
~ Lawrence Lessig, Harvard professor
Technology creates opportunities for us to not only be consumers of media but creators as well. Lawrence Lessig, Harvard professor and expert on copyright laws, calls this the “read-write” culture.
With such a shift of power emerging, it is important for us to not only be aware of it, but to fight to protect it. Understanding the remixer manifesto’s four basic principles can help us to understand the battle over copyright law in this country.
1. Culture always builds on the past
What would the world be like without Justin Bieber? As hard as that is to imagine for a certain age group, had it not been for his singing his favorite tunes and uploading it to YouTube, we might not have ever heard of the kid.
Newton once said he was “standing on the shoulders of giants,” meaning that his breakthroughs in physics would not have been possible if not for previous efforts he could draw inspiration and knowledge from.
2. The past always tries to control the future.
Hollywood studios, broadcasting corporations, and the music industry are trying to control internet media to serve their own interests.
Heavy-handed control over piracy is just the latest incarnation of the industry’s attempts at controlling perceived threats from future innovations.
“I say to you that the VCR is to the American Film producer and the American public as the Boston Strangler is to the woman home alone.”
~ MPAA Chief Jack Valenti proclaiming VCR’s would end the movie industry
Home video now represents nearly half of the industry’s revenue and from 2000 to 2010, revenues rose by 35 percent. Today, 65 percent of revenues come from sources the MPAA thought would end the industry.
3. Our future is becoming less free
Do you remember the last time you heard the song “Happy Birthday” actually being sung on a show or movie?
To use this century old song, you have to have permission from Time Warner, the owner of the copyright. If you sing the song to a friend and post it to YouTube – you are in violation of copyright law.
4. To build free societies we must limit the control of the past
We must create an environment that allows creativity and collaboration to thrive; a culture based upon shared knowledge and innovation.
Lessig presents the fundamental challenges of the existing and proposed copyright laws in two excellent presentations:
This is a longer TEDtalk by Lessig that goes into more detail.
As Lessig proposes, we need a system that allows experimentation and innovation without recourse or without operating outside the laws.
Laws that reflect the will of the people – not the media industry – are essential to creating a thriving culture.
The established past will continue to fight to control our media. It will be up to all of us to fight for the freedom to create and innovate without fear.
Digital Politics 