This week’s discussion is based upon the idea of copyright laws and how they might hinder or help society. Like Larry Lessig, the author of Comparing Cultures Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy, I agree that copyright laws can be beneficial in the form of protection, however these same laws hinder the creativity process by making it illegal to use other peoples ‘property’. Growing up listening to hip-hop I was accustomed to musicians cutting and sampling other peoples music and I thought this practice was normal in the music industry, however there can be huge legal implications when this tactic is used. Copyright infringement is using someone’s copyrighted work without permission. In an industry, hip-hop, that’s music production is largely based on the reworking of others creations copyright infringement laws if fully enforced could bring down a whole industry. In the WIRED blog post titled “Remix Planet” we learn how our generation has been so infatuated with the remix, “Everywhere you look, pop culture has been digitized resequenced and reassembled. Remixed. It started in music with hip hop samples and extended dance versions. It moved to movies, with director’s cuts and Tarantino-style swipes from other films.”(Wired, “Remix Planet). Many argue that remixing music, movies, TV shows, games or the use of samples is unoriginal, however these arguments are made my individuals who have, “very little idea about how they are made or what makes them great”(Lessig pg. 10). Remixing is in my generation’s blood and it will continue to spread and increase over time. With peer-to-peer technologies increasing on a daily rate the amount of mixed materials shared between creators and consumers will grow ten fold as the legal implications are sorted out in the courts.
Works Cited:
“Remix Planet.” Wired 13.07: Remix Planet Web. 27 May 2015.
I had a similar reflection in my post. I grew up listening to songs with sampling and I am a fan of it actually. I do not see it as someone stealing someone else work. It is always fun to listen to a song and then hear a small part that is from a different song, it catches my attention. However, I do feel very strongly that it is important to properly credit any other works used. Artists should credit anything that is not theirs. In the future do you think the copyright laws will change? And in what way? In my opinion ideas do not appear out of no where, you need inspiration. If inspiration comes from listening to another artists music it is important to let that artist know the impact they had on your work.