This week we're discussing copyright laws in regard to remixing. We saw one of my favorite news anchors, Stephen Colbert, discussing this with
Laurence Lessig. Then we saw a TED video by
Kirby Ferguson.
I agree totally with Mr Ferguson and Mr Lessing. In the words of the author of Ecclesiastes 1:9,
"What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun."
Nothing we create is new. It may not have been seen or heard, but there are only so many colors you can paint with, so many notes in a scale, so many words to sing. I've always thought copyright laws were taken too far by our society. They should be there to protect the artist, not to exploit the legal system and take advantage of new artists. Especially in our instant communication society, no one will be able to truly take your work from you and discredit you. "Imitation is the highest form of flattery," don't attack someone just because they loved your work enough to add to it. You're both benefiting from this relationship.To punish them for expressing their own creativity is a disservice to yourself and the artistic community.
