Copyright: What Makes a Use "Fair"?
Short but quality discussion of the concept of "fair use" as it has developed under law and jurisprudence in the U.S. keying on the four major characters: whether the use was commercial or not, whether the work was fact-based or fanciful, how much of the original work was used, and whether there a significant change to the original. More...
Why We Must Stand On Guard Over Copyright
Why We Must Stand On Guard Over Copyright
This brief article outlines why many nations - including Canada - are reluctant to adopt the strong copyright protections demanded by the U.S., and describes some of the tactics being employed to widen this regime despite these nations' reluctance. More...
Copywrong: Copyright Laws are Stifling Art, but the Public Domain Can Save Us
Copywrong: Copyright Laws are Stifling Art, but the Public Domain Can Save Us
This longish article is a lucid and well written explanation of the dangers of excessive copyright regulation. The central premise, expressed in the first sentence, is that "artists steal." That is, subsequent work is built on prior culture. More...
Copyright Litigation Threatens Innovation
Copyright Litigation Threatens Innovation
"As unlikely as it sounds," writes the author, "the most important issue in new technology has become copyright law." No kidding. This overview article looks at the impact of a number of recent events, including the ban on screeners, a levy on streaming media, and the SCO group attack on Linux. More...
Don't Torch Musicians' Incomes, Burn Media Piracy
Don't Torch Musicians' Incomes, Burn Media Piracy
Though the purpose of this article is to launch PureTracks, a Canadian music subscription service similar to iTunes, the author, the president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, takes the opportunity to launch a one-sided harangue under the guise of a news article in Canada's national newspaper (guess which side of the debate they're on). More...
Copyright / Copyleft
Copyright / Copyleft
Questions are being asked about Questia's online library after one author finds her books scanned and placed behind a subscription wall without her advice or consent. The company has formed numerous partnerships with publishers who, according to the author, will offer a contract if authors complain, but for only a "slight profit". More...
Copyright and Digital Media in a Post-Napster World
Copyright and Digital Media in a Post-Napster World
This paper on copyright in the digital age takes on a relentlessly legalistic point of view, perhaps understandable given its source, but quite dissatisfying to the reader. It's a good overview of the legal opinions in the United States regarding copyright, but the paper has an unfortunate tendency to convert legal opinion into fact - for example, the declaration of a U.S. court that Kaaza falls under its jurisdiction does not make it so, nor does the declaration that 'shrink wrap licenses' are enforcable mean that people have somehow "agreed" to thereby waive their right of fair use. More...
Why I Infringe
Why I Infringe
Copyright legislation may be dry and boring but the topic holds sway over a range of human emotions. This strongly worded article captures some of this. More...
Copyright Law
Copyright Law
For those of you who enjoy reading case law, here is a comprehensive set of (U.S.) cases related to copyight. More...
Stealing vs. Copyright Infringment
Stealing vs. Copyright Infringment
This is obvious, isn't it? "Stealing is walking into a Art Gallery and taking a painting under your arm and leaving. Copyright Infringement is going to a national gallery and taking a digital photograph of a painting, then going home and printing it for placement on your wall." Everybody, and I mean everybody, can tell the difference. More...