Copyright, Remix, and Mashup Multimedia Authoring Essay
This was a project due for my Multimedia Authoring class I took this semester at CCBC.
Willis Aybar
Multimedia Authoring 109
Section C1A
Doug McNamara
11/28/11
Mashup Research Paper
Copyright laws and its enforcement affect the design and production of Multimedia. On either end there are many who can debate whether these laws are respecting the ‘author’ or limiting the creative individual. These laws prohibit us from creating content in many ways as well as protect our creations from people who aren’t as creative. There is no question as to why they are in place, but one can still ask if they are too harsh, limiting the freedom of self expression and individuality.
One way or another, at least once in our lifetime, we will create something. When we do we will either be: proud of ourselves, try again, or will just leave it at that. Let’s take the latter, what if our creation became a wonder to many people who actually wanted to buy our creation, reproduce copies of our creation, or even change it and add a touch of their own originality to it. Would you care? Would it matter? If it could bring financial gain would you pursue it? Many answers exist. In order to understand we must question, the answers vary as much as the individual and due to Copyright laws we have limited options.
Copyright laws affect Multimedia in many ways. Living in the digital age we have access to information and the use of it at a much faster rate than ever before. It’s not difficult to say that if you think you have created something, someone else somewhere in the world has done something similar or just like it. If this someone already registered that body of work and finds yours to be mimicking the same work or using a portion of it and calling it your own, you could be at fault. Certain copyright laws almost prohibit you from total creative freedom. On the photography and image sharing website Flickr.com, There was over half a million images of the Golden Gate Bridge. I believe there are only so many angles you can actually shoot something from and many of those images are pretty much the same.
Speaking on the Demsetzian trend in copyright law, Brett M. Frischmann explains that it is almost unnecessary to block people from creating using what others have created. “Social demand for individuals’ access to and use of copyright protected works often exceeds private demand. Purchasers’/licensees’ willingness to pay reflects only their private demand and does not take into account value that others might realize as a result of their use.” As it is necessary to be protected it is also demanded that we allow others to expand on our ideas.
Under the Copyright Law of Fair Use (US Gov), we can only take a body of work and reproduce that particular work to be considered fair only if we use such work for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and/or research. If you wanted to use that work or a portion of it with something you wanted to create it would not be considered fair use, unless we went through the hassle of obtaining permission. Our limitations vary from a creative standpoint which I believe puts a hold on our ideas. Under laws we are bound but not limited to individual guidelines which can either make or break our creativity as an individual.
Multimedia can be defined as: having or offering the use of various communications or promotional media. Needless to say that if we ever wanted to freely create content and use it for personal or commercial purposes we might be in fault if we are using available information without consulting the author or whom it belongs to. In the documentary Rip: A Remix Manifesto artist Girl Talk says his Mashup form of art wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for all of the portions of artists work that he uses in his own creations. Copyright law definitely played a roll in his creative being and in the said documentary it explains the process he would have to go through in order to create without any copyright infringements, and according to that it would be impossible for him to be able to express his individuality through music, freely.
Not only applying to music there are many solutions for this blockade on all sorts of multimedia. Fair Use, the aforementioned is one of them. If every artist knew about the laws that we have to follow in order to create I believe things wouldn’t run as smooth as they do when people just bring ideas to life. But then again there comes a time where an individual like me who happens to love multimedia and all sorts of it, will go out and capture the world. I’ve had to learn that I should not upload images without watermarks. But still I have yet to register any body of work that I have created and I have seen many of my photographs used on flyers and posters throughout Baltimore City without anybody reaching out and asking me for any sort of permission. In my case there isn’t much that I am able to do, as I won’t and can’t go through the process of registering every single photograph that I shoot. Still copyright laws protect me because if I shot the photograph, I own it.
On PhotoLaw.net I quote the first paragraph in the FAQ section answering ‘What works are copyrighted?’ “Copyright protects original works of authorship that are fixed in tangible form. This includes photographs, literary works including non-fiction and fiction, letters, music as well as accompanying lyrics, sound recordings, pictorial, graphic and sculptural works, motion pictures, audiovisual works, computer software, and architectural works. Even such ordinary things such as simple letters, catalog descriptions and doodles are protected by copyright. The only essential condition that the law requires is that the work is original.” This is viable to those with little knowledge of how copyright laws work and even so, there is nothing new under the Sun.
I am more of an Artist and I rather create my own, having vast experience in music, sound engineering, photography and video work, including shooting, directing, and editing, I doubt I will ever have to resort to finding or using a piece of somebody elses work to create mine, although we can still dig deep into the topic of being ‘inspired’.
That’s not to mention plagiarism, which is the act of copying something and calling it original. Not every pairing of images that look alike means it’s a case of plagiarism. I mean- is it really impossible for two people, from the same city, maybe from different neighborhoods, who went to schools that followed the same city wide curriculum, which means they almost learned the same thing, could come up with similar creations? I would dare to say it is rare but it sure isn’t impossible. With so many bodies of work being made on a daily basis we are bound to have done something we thought was original, but a great individual before us did it first.
If stock photos or stock audio didn’t exist, would we really need to go out of our way to create everything we need from scratch? I mean is using an audio piece for a few seconds really that bad? Many can argue so but at plain sound, to me it doesn’t matter much. Most of these large corporations just want to protect what they already have even if it means hindering the new and upcoming artist that will pave the way for the future. Maybe I grasped the concept in a different way which doesn’t necessarily agree with the copyright laws already set throughout the world. I agree we as human beings need guidelines but freedom to be is just as important.
One existing solution to some of these copyright issues would be to start creating your own unique material, simply. If a specific sound is needed and someone already has created it, make it all over again from scratch. Of course it could take a lifetime if we start remaking our own everything from the beginning, so one of the alternatives to that would be licensing the body of work or a portion of it and checking if its possible to use it to create your own. Sometimes neither are possible and that’s how we are affected by copyright laws. Honestly I respect the copyright laws but I won’t necessarily abide by them when it’s time for me to create. I won’t steal and will not be labeled a thief, but we live in the information age and I believe we have to use what we’ve got. We take from the past to build for the future, and that’s actually all we’ve ever done and will do. Learn from our mistakes and make better ones.
Jeanette and Melvin’s Wedding 11-07-11
Ive been meaning to upload this for awhile now! Finally got around to it and I feel great! You see A humble photographer is usually his own worst critic, and I to say the least- am my own best friend and worst enemy. But to my personal dismay (you may say otherwise) I believe these photos have been some of the best I’ve shot in the wedding category. At this point in my career I have shot approximately 4 weddings, this being my 5th, which of course isn’t a lot, but you have to understand that I am far from a professional, but I have been pursuing photography as a career in the visual communications field for a little overt 2 years now.
Well the day before this wedding, which was a Sunday. I quit my job. I worked at Dewin’s HandTalk Barbershop for over 2 and a half years, and in one bad conversation which lasted about 5 minutes my time there as an employee was over. I packed up all of my belongings and since then I have been on my own. What more of a push would anybody need to pursue their dreams like never before? and so I did. That Monday I shot the wedding with more energy and enthusiasm than ever before. In all honesty I felt free. I broke a very long chain to my routine and I realized that my future is only in my hands. Being there at Jeanette’s house that beautiful cloudless morning, before anybody was dressed, and my earphones playing a song called “Ambition” from Wale’s sophomore album, made everything perfect.
The newlywed couple was perfect. The weather did not disagree. and I am honored to have captured it in all its glory.
I am here for a purpose, and I will not fail.
Hope you all enjoy!
PHOTOS ALBUM CAN BE FOUND @ TheStoryNeverEnds Photography on Facebook
Quick Return: Network
As a ‘more than for personal use’ Social Media user we all somewhat depend on our networks. I mean really virtually without our networks who are we? If we said something and nobody hears it did we really say it? United we stand, divided we fall? Our networks allow for all our information and media to spread quickly in a matter of seconds, and for awhole lot of other cool stuff that we wouldnt get unless we worked for it. In less words what I am trying to say is that I have made a return to Facebook. I realized while building my Photography Facebook account how hard it was to build my network, and just like that I went right back. Cant start from scratch in these crucial times. I have a lot of work to do and my task list isnt getting shorter and the worst part is the days aren’t getting longer.
Follow me on Twitter- @inthe_am and for my Photography and news on @thestorynever
Happy Thanksgiving To All
Happy thanksgiving my people! I had a blast. My family decided to go celebrate in New York and what a trip that was because check it- We had to go and return to Baltimore in the same day. Now that’s a lot of driving. Especially with traffic we spent atleast 8 hours if not maybe more on the road in total. I offered to help but my father was in control. At the end of the day I believe it was all worth it though. I couldn’t move after I ate. We have a very big family! Check out the table!
Hope you all enjoyed yours!
TheStruggleContinues Again
Right. It isn’t too early to speak on it, its around the corner. Not an unusual feeling I think we all get around this time of the year. The hurry of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and then Christmas. An adrenaline rush to make enough money in 2 months to then blow it and give it all right back in a few hours. All the #nodaysoff, challenges and lack of sleep. But Who can forget waking up on January 1st, about 1pm, a slight headache, dry mouth, pictures start flowing through your mind of the extravagant party the world usually throws on its 365th day of each calendar year. One would dare say that usually every year begins great, waking up to new aspirations, turning a new page, New Years resolutions and all that good stuff. Back on the chase to lose weight and do things differently, to slowly but surely land back in the same old routine within a few weeks.
It doesn’t go to say that we don’t like new things- We all love new things, like a breath of fresh air, reminds us that we are alive. I’ve learned that new things, like a new pair of sneakers, a new position at our jobs, or a new girlfriend, always change things even if only temporarily. Its like a spark, an impact, but just like a spark, a fire won’t light unless its on a flammable substance, and an impact won’t move unless it has enough force. This force only sparks motivation amongst very few people for a very short period of time and all i really did was take time out to notice the routine.
I guess all I’m trying to say is that there’s this similar problem I have every year, its a new thing, new time, new space, it starts new but it all ends the same.
TheStoryNeverEnds is currently a Baltimore based Visual Design company working its way against the grain of the standardized form of societies visions and expectations. I vow to be free, and I won’t let anything like a “New Year” drag me down with its untimely weight of worries as the only thing time is doing is going faster.
It sure doesn’t forgive, so use it wisely.
Today My Personal Facebook Account Will Be Shutdown
As we continue on, as we grow and become different human beings, change becomes inevitable. Tonight I close my personal Facebook account to commemorate new change in my life and my surroundings.
“If my circumstances dont change then I will”
I used to say. Today it becomes true. If you ask me why- my response will be about how it takes so much of our precious time away. Posting daily, expecting likes and comments, Reading peoples lives which make mine less productive and a lot of other personal reasons for why I will not be using my personal profile anymore. I will still post my photography on www.facebook.com/thestorynevaends
I know I am not the only person feeling this way. If you have a business use it for business purposes, but on another note I would like to see how many people wish me a Happy Birthday without a Facebook.
Creative Mini Autobiography
Just a snippet though
“Fade from macaroni and glue, to water colors, cheap brushes, then Construction paper and pencils. Turn the page to an alto saxophone as my middle school class of 2001 marched down the aisles. Try and read sharpies on any surface, some spray paint cans and latex gloves. Transition to a Compaq Presario upgraded from scrapped parts of a Dell. A motion blur of hallway battles, from instrumentals, and beats on Cubase, to printed lyrics and blackberry rhymes on Pro Toolz. SPMG recording studios to HandTalk Entertainment. Time-lapse through Trimmers, sheers, the 1 and a half, noxema, swiveling chairs, hot towels, razor blades and talcum powder. Just a small visual straight out the lens of TheStoryNevaEnds from a Canon Powershot to the 50mm of a T2i. Add some creative writing to the mix and you have Willis Aybar.”
#OccupyCal
This is just unbelievable. If you don’t become angry watching this… I have no further comments.
Where Do We go From Here?
Where Do We Go From Here?
Well if you ask me, the possibilities are endless. Today is my third day unemployed and I feel great, not because I am unemployed, but because I now have the opportunity to work for me, instead of making somebody else rich, I have the mind power to create a world around me I never had. Wish me luck, for I am on my way. Where do we go from here? The sky is not the limit, as we are human beings- there is none. Good luck to you as I’m looking in the mirror. #nodaysoff
TheStoryNeverEnds Photography
If I could say so myself, and I can. I would say I came a very long way with my love for photography. Soon I will be writing articles about my adventures in this city and all of the new photography gigs I am sure to be a part of. I am not done with this city yet, and I am just beginning with photography, our relationship will ever last, if God permits.
ps All of the photos on this blog/page have been taken and edited by me, unless otherwise noted.
Social Media
I do much of it, and here I will be displaying most note worthy articles that I figure you should know about. Also used for mental ventilation, I will write many of my thoughts and endeavors along with changes going on in the world. If you are here with me, thank you.
Where Have You Been All My Life?
Well thats what I asked myself, when I looked myself in the mirror and realized who I was.
I guess it wasnt that difficult to figure out, But I dont know why I took so long to do so. 
TheStoryNeverEnds 
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