Emily Adler, Megan Gasvoda, and Kristine McNally

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

What is copyright?

-Copyright: the exclusive right to make copies, license, and otherwise exploit a literary, musical, or artistic work, whether printed,audio, video, etc.

-Plagiarism:Plagiarism is the the act of stealing and passing off the ideas, words, or other intellectual property produced by another as one's own. For example, using someone else's words in a research paper without citing the source, is an act of plagiarism.

-Infringement: an act that disregards an agreement or a right

Copyright Myths

-If it doesn't have a copyright notice, it's not copyrighted.

-If I don't charge for it, it's not a violation.

-If I make up my own stories, but base them on another work, my new work belongs to me.

-Oh, so copyright violation isn't a crime or anything?

-So I can't ever reproduce anything?

The DMCA

-DMCA: The Digital Media and Copyright Act-How has the internet affected the DMCA?

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a Federal law established in 1998. It criminalized the development or use of software that makes it possible for people to access materials that are copyright protected, like music files, DVDs, or software programs. It also makes it criminal to disseminate copyright protected materials.

Open Sourcing and Creative Commons

Open Sourcing: Open-sourcing is the act of propagating the open source movement. Most often Open-sourcing

refers to releasing previously proprietary software under an open source/free software license, but it may

also refer programing Open Source software or installing Open Source software.

Creative Commons:devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally

and to share.

Open Sourcing and Creative Commons

-Examples: Linux and Moodle-What is creative commons?

-Example: Flickr

The Internet and Copyright

Protected: links, original text, graphics, audio, video, HTML, other unique elements

of a website

Do’s: links to other websites and “free” graphics

Don’ts: stealing web content, copying and pasting, emails, changing the meaning of

content, unique graphics

Copyright Issues on the Internet

-Internet copyright issues are new and unique.-The do’s and don’ts of websites-Well-known examples:

-Google-Youtube-Rapidshare vs. Chanel 131-Wikipedia: US vs. Germany-Civilian takes on Apple, youtube, google, and others.

Copyright Issues in Television

-Television has its own unique set of copyright issues-Important examples:

-IO vs. VEOH-Viacom vs. Youtube and Google-MPAA vs. Real Networks

Copyright Issues in Music

-Music copyright issues change as technology grows-Copyright issues for file sharing were first legally addressed with Napster.-Controversies surrounding Limewire-Record labels suing porn companies

Criticisms and Counter-suits

-Too easy for copyright owners to encourage website owners to take down allegedly infringing content and links which may in cage not be infringing.

-Of the violation notices Google has received, 37% were not valid copyright claims.

-Efforts in congress to reform the DMCA: The Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act

In Conclusion...

-Ignorance and accessibility are the greatest causes of copyright violation.  -Some corporations are better than others at adhering to the laws.  

-The laws that are in place right now are effective but not flawless.