The emergence of new media tools such as YouTube, Facebook
and Twitter have been creating some tension between copyright owners, the
public and site managers. Copyrights owners have requested from companies like YouTube
to take down videos posted because of the copyrighted content of certain material used.
Tim Arrango tells us that the "law provides a four-point test for the fair use of copyrighted works,
taking into account things like the purpose, the size of an excerpt and the
effect the use might have on the commercial value of the actual work."
but because YouTube is generating revenues because users are posting videos,
copyright lawyers argue that the commercial aspect of the copyright law
applies.
This privacy and copyright issue hinder creativity as
people are afraid to post videos or do not contest the copyright companies
decisions to take down their videos even though there are groups of free
lawyers representing them according to the article About fair use, and the problems of
old media: As Rights Clash on YouTube, Some Music Vanishes" by Tim Arrango
Writers and artist
are now posting their works online for the public to taste for free. people can
download unknown artists songs for free.
This gives the artist exposure to the public who can sample their and decide
based on the number of downloads if this artist is able to make a name for
himself just like Allan Vilhan in the article by Andy Raskin "Giving it Away (for Fun and Profit) Creative Commons encourages artists
to share and distribute their work for free. And that could be the key to a new
multibillion-dollar industry". The artists makes money however if a
company wants to use their music for a movie or soundtracks for a commercial or
a game for example. A new company, Creative Commons, is making a name itself serving as the
intermediary between the artist and rest of the public and leading the way to a
new industry.
