While reading this chapter, I imagined a digital pasture, which once existed unobstructed for all of us to roam and eat to our heart’s content. What began as a few harmless white picket fences surrounding the neighbors’ houses has since turned into 20ft high metal fences complete with barbed wire, locks and security guards. I can no longer take an apple from my neighbor’s tree. I never tried to take the entire tree, mind you, just one apple which would have rotted anyway!
This chapter makes me less eager to sample outside of the creative commons or public domain resources until I further understand the ins-and-outs of copyright law. Granted, to arrive at my fullest creative potential, being able to sample anything would be key. But why spend hours and hours creating a song, video piece etc., if in the end I cannot share it with others due to copyright restrictions?
However, though this chapter does make me a little more cautious because of the legal implications of sampling copyrighted material, it more so, makes me angry that so many rules are being put in place! All of the laws are like a noose being pulled tighter!
So, though I may be on the cautious end right now due to my lack of knowledge on the subject, the information in this chapter compels me to learn more and become aware of artists who are using samples to push the limits. Also, I’m curious to find out what groups are standing up to all of this.
And by the way, what is this about…?: (an excerpt from page 146) “a film teacher could violate the DMCA by making a montage of clips from movies on encrypted, copy-protected DVDs.”
And also, on page 146, it says, “Yet another law – as yet unenacted, but working its way through Congress- would compel manufacturers to make computers and other devices comply with technical measures for protecting copyright.” ------ So, has that passed yet?
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