Future of Copyright
Introduction
The concept of copyright is not new. It is an old concept that continues to be applied to multiple products within multiple industries within our modern society. As advances in technology have transpired, so have the economic and political ideologies that seek to protect, apply and enforce the concept of copyright.
Since the concept of copyright is so versatile, the implications of the term have changed over time. So much so, that common notions of what constitutes copyright is highly conditional on the individual. In fact, the entire concept of copyright has different meanings to different individuals.
Our intention with this Scenario Planning exercise is to define copyright in broad terms, and then specifically illustrate how the Internet and World Wide Web have changed the implications of copyright within the media industries: audio, video, and publishing. We will examine the technological, economic and political driving forces that facilitate or hinder these changes, and also the legal and social implications for society.
. Great research! I llike that you have taken the time to understand and think through the issues. GOOD STUFF! . The systems diagram have organised the forces in terms of hierarchies, and not systems. Remember that issues link with each other irrespective of how they are best organised. Politcal issues drive social issues, and economic issues etc, Look at the systems diagra of the the MashUp group or the group working on the creation of software. . great work, good luck, look forward to seeing you next week!
Group members
We are presently MBA candidates at the Universiteit van Amsterdam Business School. Our group consists of Ching-Heng Wu, Hui-Fei Yen, and Vijay Kalappa.
Research questions
2. What is Intellectual Property?
6. what behavior of users would cause the copyright infringement of software?
7. What is the effect of copyright infringement on digital culture?
8. What is the DRM and what is its aim?
9. Is there any DRM implementations? Give examples
10.How long would Copyright last ?
11. Is there anyone to oppose the copyright? What are their arguments?
16. Is it possible to preserve or protect copyright by using technology skill?
17. What is the original of copyright?
Driving forces of copyright
Description:
We have identified four major driving forces: technological, economic, legal and political. In our present society, the rapid pace of technological development means that it is the most obvious driving force for copyright issues. This subsequently prompts economic driving forces to come into play. The economic implications of the technology will ascertain whether the technology endangers or liberates copyright issues. It may be evidenced through a reduction in product marketshare or sales, or may even call for a redesign in existing business models. Legal driving forces become a major issue when financial and economic questions are raised regarding copyright. In theory, the law is implemented to protect firms and individuals from financial and intellectual property losses. However, the interpretation of this law is varied and contingent on many factors: nature of the copyright issue, medium, parties involved and importantly, although indirectly, any political driving forces. Protection of a nation's intellectual property - be it artistic, technological or simply procedural - is a serious issue. It applies equally to individuals or corporations alike.
Driving forces analysis:
Copyright: Technological Driving Forces
Copyright: Economic Driving Forces
Copyright: Legal Driving Forces
Copyright: Political Driving Forces
Systemetic diagram
Identify all players
(graph ...Jo)
Three different type of attitudes toward copyright
1.Support copyright for economic purposes:
(Vijay)
2.Support copyright for ownership and not economics: (Ruby)
3.Support open resource platforms, no copyright needed: (Jo)
Scenarios
Scenario 1: Economic driving forces shape the future of copyright
Scenario 1: A future where economic driving forces shape the future of copyright
The rapid pace of technological development means that it has become one of the key drivers in shaping copyright issues. However, it is the economic implications of the technology that is the catalyst for ascertaining whether the technology endangers or liberates copyright issues. It may be evidenced through a reduction in product market share or sales, or may even call for a redesign in existing business models. Legal driving forces become a major issue when financial and economic questions are raised regarding copyright. In theory, the law is implemented to protect firms and individuals from financial and intellectual property losses. However, the interpretation of this law is varied and contingent on many factors, primarily the nature of the copyright violation,
In some instances, the increase in illegal P2P sharing of information – music, film and general “theft” of intellectual property from artists, creators and corporations alike has prompted a backlash from those parties and is at least partly responsible for an economic downturn due to a loss of revenues. Big media firms such as TimeWarner, Sony and Bertelsmann are threatening to take their case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
In an effort to boost the economy, political driving forces adopt the copyright issue and the government becomes involved. Re-categorized as a “national” as opposed to purely economic issue, the government claims that the protection of a nation's intellectual property - be it artistic, technological or simply procedural - is paramount. Moreover, if citizens steal information from sources internally, they are stealing from their own. It becomes a major campaign issue for politicians around the world. Governments institute the following mandates with regard to information transfer:
1. Greater laws to prevent copyright theft
2. Strict enforcement of these laws – violators subjected to imprisonment
3. Legal systems amended to ensures greater financial rewards to creators of content
4. Media is given a greater platform to promote original content
5. New systems implemented to educate public on theft of software
Scenario 2: Free driving forces shape the future of copyright
“Anti-copyright” proponents would shape the future of copyright:
1. As the IT technology is growing, more people utilize the internet to share their sources with each other, causing the commercial company to suit against the consumers and against the software companies that provide the share platform.
2. More and more firm’s lawsuits fail because there is not a clear line between the two concepts (copyright, and free information), and also there are holes in the law.
3. The company would force the government to make a more stringent copyright law to punish the pirates and the software companies and the consumers who download the film, music, etc. illegally. However, the technology is growing faster than the speed at which the government can deal with the copyright infringement problem. Even though the government has strict laws, they can’t stop the user from downloading the data from the Internet. The Internet users and Software Company always have ways to escape from the Internet police’s investigation.
4. The government also strengthens the telecommunication structure, such as “ fiber to the home, that increases the Internet speed. With the Internet going more and more public, people become more motivated to share and download resources from the Internet.
5. As more and more people can share and download resources from the Internet, they become less motivated to buy pirate products from illegal vendors. As a result, the pirate factories and pirate vendors would die out.
6. In the society, the anti-copyright movement is getting support from the public. Their arguments are below: a). Copyright originated only in the last few decades. Creativity flourished well before copyright existed. b) While some are in favor of limited copyright terms, copyrights in many countries last for periods longer than a human lifetime. It is argued that even if a limited copyright period would be beneficial, these long copyright terms hold content back far longer than necessary. c) Many argue that copyright is inherently contrary to the ideals of free speech and expression, which are valued highly by free societies. d) Some companies abuse copyright privileges by suing or threatening to sue those who clearly are within their rights under fair use, but who cannot afford to defend themselves in court. e) Frequently, content creators do not hold their own copyrights, instead relinquishing them to publishers, producers, and the like, through contractual arrangements.
7. Through education, people are more willing to share what they have than before. So more creators don’t feel like copyright. The world is going to go a utopia.
8. However, the commercial companies would face the severe economic situation because the market share deceases. Small ones would go bankruptcy. Big ones tried to lower the prices of their products, and to add extra values into their products to attract people to buy them. The commercial companies also change their ways of doing business.
Scenario 3: An amalgamation of driving forces shape the future of copyright
There is a whole new world.
Back graound
Assumption1: Economic driven force failed because they can't catch the technology development and make the law immedietely to stop pirate products or illegal download. There is always a surprise on the new technology innovations. There is always time lag to lobby and force the government making the new law.
Moreover, this is an incredibly long-term war!! The companies not only invest a lot of money on making the new rules but also spend huge money conducting countless and endless law suits. Although at the begining, these coporations are considered to have good economic power. However, as their sales go dwon year by year, and the profit margin decrease day by day, these companies are run out of their energy and money to protect the copyright. So, they stop attacking others. In the end, theses companies are either surrender or totally disapear.
The Only few smart suvivers then come into this senario 3---New wave!
Assumption2:
The free resource proponents don't go successful neither. Even they have great idea: everyone shares everything to each other, and the whole human being get benefits form it. However, this Utoperia is hard to implement and realize. The reasons go as following:
1. This is against the "human nature". Only some creators want to create without clarifying their ownership. Most creators still feel unhappy to see other people using thir work without remark where it come from. It is this ownership drives creators' motivation to create more master piece.
2. Secondly, Not everyone is amateur creators. They can creat their music or painting without charge high price or rewarding. They can create without depend on the big company to publish it. However, they still need to make a living. At least they need to clarify their ownership, then they can perform it and maintain the basic living quality.
3.