MAC Week #1, Comment #2 to Tremeris’ Blog

Tremeris said. . .
MAC Week 1 Reading
Part 1
There are so many things to have in place when you want to use copyrighted material. Nowadays it pays to be proficient in Adobe Flash and other creative software where you can create different symbols, pictures or characters. The guy from Creative Commons had a great point when he suggested that there's so much legal business with copyrighted materials, that we should just loosen the law so that the people who are creating things today can use older works and still give the creator of those works recognition and payment. Also, I find it interesting the methods of sale in Brazil vs the U.S. Here in the U.S. we focus on cd sales but in Brazil the cd's are used as a promoting tool to get fans to come to the concert.

Part 2
The use of the Disney movies to explain copyright laws and fair use was brilliant. I know it took the creator(s) a long time to gather the proper scenes. It was good that Dr. Joe said something about the unassigned percent when it comes to fair use because I remember hearing something about that a couple of years ago. The documentary film on fair use seemed very on point. Even though I didn't understand most of what they were talking about, I do feel that certain civil rights videos and footage should be able to be used without the threat of litigation.

Part 3
The Creative Commons video is right in line with my line of thinking. How is this a shared culture if we can't share it. I'm glad that Creative Commons was created so that people like myself who create things without looking for a profit will have a place to share things. That second video was hilarious!!! It also cleared up some questions that I had about Creative Commons.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmiehomeschoolmom/4797678795/

I said. . .
It is a travesty to even fathom let alone allow the disappearance of Civil Rights or any historical footage. I had not known about this until watching the videos and I wonder if it is only the African/African- American experience that is undergoing this licensing issue and what can be done about it. In light of the new information we received this week, I also wonder if the copyright debate is a global or American problem. You mention how Brazil's use of music content on cds for promotional/marketing purposes versus the American system of making a profit. That same video also speaks to the differences that exist in Nigeria. Look at the Swiss! Their assessment of copyright infringement is that the information trafficked on the web is the equivalent to a library and when you think about it from that angle, there is a point to be made. I understand that no matter what, permission granted is permission to use, but has our country become too litigious? Is copyright protection really protecting the artists or the bottom line? I remember a time when people developed their craft for the love of it. Is it now just for the love of money?

MAC Week #1, Comment #1 to Marsona’s Blog

Marsona said . . .
MAC Week 1 Post - Why is Copyright so Hard????
Since we are reading and discussing copyright, I thought this was the perfect time to get feedback on an ongoing problem with students today. I teach 8th grade Computer Literacy and I think I really have some really great students. I teach a three week unit on Copyright where we discuss what is copyright, what can and cannot be copy-written, and fair use guidelines. Our students have a lot expected of them and are required to complete Science and History Fair projects where they must do research. The problem is when doing their research, they tend to just copy just what they see instead of rephrasing and/or siting their sources.
This really becomes a problem when they attempt to compete in district and state fairs and are often disqualified because of copyright issues. Some say they are too young to really understand that using someone else's material and claiming it as their own is not really a big problem. But they tend to understand everything else.
Please feel free to comment on this issue your thoughts and or solutions. Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amidanyorai/36431935/in/photostream

I said...
A recent incident in my class makes good fodder for the copyright debate and when it might be acceptable to use copy written material without “authorization.” It also sounds all too familiar. During my cycle 2 phase, I explained to students that they would have to get express permission (from the artist) to use any popular music. In each instance, they informed me of fair use practice information. Their source: the iTunes store. 
Their attitudes also indicated that if the artist didn’t know, what did it matter? During their final presentations, a maverick by the name of Jason used popular artist Wiz Khalifa’s “Roll Up” as a soundtrack to his digital story. I saw this as teachable moment for information literacy skills. As a result, I did some research in hopes of getting students to understand the legality of the issue and found information from Washington State University http://publishing.wsu.edu/copyright/music.html#Education
After reading it and a class discussion, it was determined that students were correct in their assertion that popular music could be used for their projects because it was for educational purposes and would not be played in it’s entirety. Now I am not so sure. “Roll Up” wasn’t necessary for Jason to share his story. It was appropriate, but not necessary. Which is why I will revise the project and add Creative Commons as a resource.