Jai – Lessig/Intro Response

Would you change our current copyright laws?

I remember using programs like Limewire and Frostwire to ‘burn’ songs onto the blank CDs I found around the house. I knew it was illegal but I didn’t know exactly why. Looking back, I can see now that many smaller artists who do not have the backing of major record labels/corporations were not being fairly compensated when their music was pirated. However, I am frustrated by the fervor with which multi-million dollar corporations go after maintaining copyright laws. The example with Stephanie Lenz (mentioned in Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy) is a gross display of power and dominance by Universal. They threatened her with approx. $150,000 in fines over a video of her child — a video that had no monetary benefit for Lenz — and spent more time in litigation than they would have spent licensing use of the song. 

I would change the copyright laws if that means that artists still have the opportunity to be fairly compensated for their work, while also understanding that they are making contributions to culture that could help others tap into their creativity. However, I would focus on an initiative to educate (myself and) others on the current copyright laws that exist and how they apply to the art we consume. Companies like Universal will continue to rule with an iron fist if we don’t understand the ‘crimes’ they accuse us of.