Copyright Infringements! HOW RUDE!!! (Com125 Assignment 3)

What is a copyright?

Copyright is a set of exclusive rights regulating the use of a particular expression of an idea or information. At its most general, it is literally "the right to copy" an original creation. In most cases, these rights are of limited duration. The symbol for copyright is "©", and in some jurisdictions may alternatively be written as either (c) or (C). (Reference)
There are a few requirements needed in order to obtain a copyright:
1. has to be original to the creator. The creator can't claim copyright on someone else's work.
2. has to be creative. Facts, for example, cannot be copyrighted.
3. has to be fixed in a tangible medium (which includes digital media). Ideas cannot be copyrighted, but the tangible expression of these ideas is copyrighted. This is often referred to as the idea/expression dichotomy.
(Reference) Ok, so then what is copyright INFRINGEMENT?
Copyright infringement (or copyright violation) is the unauthorized use of material which is covered by copyright law, in a manner that violates one of the original copyright owner's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. (reference)

So what are these “exclusive rights”?

Several exclusive rights typically attach to the holder of a copyright:
· to produce copies or reproductions of the work and to sell those copies (including, typically, electronic copies)
· to import or export the work
· to create derivative works (works that adapt the original work)
· to perform or display the work publicly
· to sell or assign these rights to others
· to transmit or display by means of digital audio transmission (XM Satellite Radio, Sirius)

The phrase "exclusive right" means that only the copyright holder is free to exercise the attendant rights, and others are prohibited using the work without the consent of the copyright holder. Copyright is often called a "negative right", as it serves to prohibit people (e.g. readers, viewers, or listeners, and primarily publishers and would be publishers) from doing something, rather than permitting people (e.g. authors) to do something. (Reference).

Now let’s be honest!!

Who knew that downloading off www.limewire.com was so highly illegal?? Well I really did not know until about 2 or 3 years ago that I was actually stealing! I always thought it was just so great that I was getting all these free songs, and I always wondered why everyone was always going out and buying the cd rather than downloading it offline. Now that I think about it, these artists are putting a lot of time, effort and money in to making these songs and then losing it all when we go on these websites and download it for free.
· For electronic and audio-visual media, unauthorized reproduction and distribution is occasionally referred to as piracy or theft! (Now that is scary!)

Ipods! (do they increase or decrease chances of copyright infringement?)

Ipods Ipods Ipods, almost everyone has one! How do you get your music on to your ipod? Well apple offers a program called Itunes in which you can pay $.99 per song and download it legally off the internet. Sounds easy and great, however do the math. I have an Ipod that holds up to 1,000 songs!! IF I decided to never change the songs on my Ipod (chances are slim to none!) then I would have already paid $1000!! I find that a little ridiculous! I personally avoid using websites like www.limewire.com and www.napster.com because I am not willing to get in trouble for stealing songs. Instead I just use old cd’s or buy the cd and then copy that on to my ipod. Honestly, I dont listen to my Ipod nearly as much as I would if I had all the latest songs. I am sure many people just take their music right off of the illegal websites and put them on to their ipods. I would say Mp3 players have definitely increased the chances of someone copying music illegally.