The number of challenges to the US recording industry's approach to copyright infringement is on the rise. But a new challenge, by Harvard law professor Charles Nesson, has "opened a new front" in the battle between the RIAA and music file-sharers, Computerworld reports. It challenges the constitutionality of the statute the RIAA has used in thousands of cases against file-sharers. Nesson argues … [Read more...] about Harvard prof on RIAA anti-piracy tactics
Copyright
Defending remixers, future artists
In light of the new intellectual property law President Bush just signed (see this yesterday), it's interesting to read the story about how 13-month-old Holden Lenz's 29-second dance video on YouTube became a case of "willful copyright infringement under the laws of the United States" whereby Holden's mother "is liable to a fine of up to $150,000," Stanford University law professor Lawrence Lessig … [Read more...] about Defending remixers, future artists
Piracy fear campaign
Fear tactics persist in the education of youth and parents about digital issues. This time the "be afraid" message is echoed by the National Center for State Courts, Wired blogger David Kravets reports. In this case it's packaged into a 24-page leaflet in the form of a comic book which is being distributed to 50,000 students nationwide. One of the storylines is about how "criminal" teen … [Read more...] about Piracy fear campaign
Important decision on fair use
It was an important decision for all those digital video producers and YouTube users out there. The Los Angeles Times called a San Jose federal court decision last week "a victory for fair use." Judge Jeremy refused to dismiss a lawsuit that a Pennsylvania woman filed after Universal Music Publishing forced YouTube to remove a video of her children cavorting to an old Prince hit," the Times … [Read more...] about Important decision on fair use
For media students & young video producers
Two weeks ago I mentioned Stanford Prof. Laurence Lessig's comment about the impact on young people from knowing that remixing media, a way of life for them, is technically illegal. "That realization is extraordinarily corrosive, extraordinarily corrupting," he said in a speech. Now American University's Center for Social Media has advice for video makers in the form of a Code of Best Practices … [Read more...] about For media students & young video producers