If I fancy importing a new song onto my iTunes and I decide it is not great enough to spend a very tiny percentage of my student loan on. With a few simple clicks, I can have it in my music library entirely FREE. Welcome to the 21st century; where you can now access majority of any form of media for the grand total of nothing. Does this make me a thief? Stealing from every person who made that media possible?
As Angela Mills Wade explains: ‘The internet and digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for creativity and content.’ (2010). But it is important to remember how controllability in terms of print and digital formats differ. When it comes to a book in printed format, unlike digital; it is very simple to monitor yet hard to manipulate. This is because the number of copies printed and distributed can be tracked. Whereas once a book is published in cyberspace; it is very easily modified.
There has been many piracy initiatives introduced, one being the new form of DRM: visible and invisible digital watermarks. The watermarks contain the customer’s personal information, warning to not re-sell, or distribute the book in any way.
‘The user who purchases such a book will agree to terms and conditions (i.e. a “clickwrap”) that prohibit copying and distribution, as well as a statement that the consumer’s personal information will be prominently displayed on the book as a deterrent from distributing or copying in violation of the agreement.’ (Robinson, 2012).
However, I ask myself does piracy really have a significant effect on the market? Although it can be argued the previously discussed form of DRM ‘allows the market to grow, and reap the rewards of the next technological revolution.’ (Robinson, 2012). I believe the real solution lies with the publishers ‘adapting their business models to power a thriving content industry in the digital age.’ (Wade, 2010). Although on one hand copyright can be seen as a ‘mechanism to prove a just reward for authors’ labor, consistent with communal notions of fairness.’ On the other, ‘individuals seek to access information at the lowest cost.’ (Maxwell, 2004). Furthermore, I dwell on Maxwell’s words; is copyright simply a ‘barrier to the free flow of information?’ (2004).
According to information provided to the Association of American Publishers by a number of its members two years ago, 'U.S. publishers across all categories lose $80 million to $100 million annually to piracy.’ (Springen, 2014). Therefore it is quite evident that it is time for a fresh perspective on this ‘strange and wondrous beast’ (Shaffi, 2014) we call copyright. Of course results from drastic changes are not going to appear over night, it ‘sounds a wonderful thing to remove territoriality and start with a global mix, but you have to be careful that you don’t remove something that is important, and then suddenly the whole contraption falls apart.’ (Shaffi, 2014).
Word count ~ 484.
Bibliography:
Abrams, D. (2013). Does Copyright Make Books Disappear?. [online] Publishing Perspectives. Available at: http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/08/does-copyright-make-books-disappear/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Albanese, A. (2014). Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Publishers Urged to Reclaim Copyright Debate. [online] PublishersWeekly.com. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/Frankfurt-Book-Fair/article/64310-frankfurt-book-fair-2014-publishers-urged-to-reclaim-copyright-debate.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Hall, F. (2013). The business of digital publishing. New York: Routledge, pp.139-155.
Maxwell, T. (2004). Is copyright necessary?. First Monday, [online] 9(9). Available at: http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1175/1095 [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Robinson, D. (2012). A New Form of DRM: A Legal and Pragmatic Solution for Protection of E-Books | Digital Book World. [online] Digitalbookworld.com. Available at: http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/a-new-form-of-drm-a-legal-and-pragmatic-solution-for-protection-of-e-books/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Shaffi, S. (2014). Caution urged around copyright changes. [online] Thebookseller.com. Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/caution-urged-around-copyright-changes [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Springen, K. (2014). What YA Publishers and Authors Can Do to Fight E-Book Piracy. [online] PublishersWeekly.com. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63357-the-piracy-problem.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Tivnan, T. (2011). The future of copyright. [online] Thebookseller.com. Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/feature/future-copyright [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Wade, A. (2010). Copyright and Advertising in the 21st century. [online] Inpublishing.co.uk. Available at: http://www.inpublishing.co.uk/kb/articles/copyright_and_advertising_in_the_21st_century.aspx [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
As Angela Mills Wade explains: ‘The internet and digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for creativity and content.’ (2010). But it is important to remember how controllability in terms of print and digital formats differ. When it comes to a book in printed format, unlike digital; it is very simple to monitor yet hard to manipulate. This is because the number of copies printed and distributed can be tracked. Whereas once a book is published in cyberspace; it is very easily modified.
There has been many piracy initiatives introduced, one being the new form of DRM: visible and invisible digital watermarks. The watermarks contain the customer’s personal information, warning to not re-sell, or distribute the book in any way.
‘The user who purchases such a book will agree to terms and conditions (i.e. a “clickwrap”) that prohibit copying and distribution, as well as a statement that the consumer’s personal information will be prominently displayed on the book as a deterrent from distributing or copying in violation of the agreement.’ (Robinson, 2012).
However, I ask myself does piracy really have a significant effect on the market? Although it can be argued the previously discussed form of DRM ‘allows the market to grow, and reap the rewards of the next technological revolution.’ (Robinson, 2012). I believe the real solution lies with the publishers ‘adapting their business models to power a thriving content industry in the digital age.’ (Wade, 2010). Although on one hand copyright can be seen as a ‘mechanism to prove a just reward for authors’ labor, consistent with communal notions of fairness.’ On the other, ‘individuals seek to access information at the lowest cost.’ (Maxwell, 2004). Furthermore, I dwell on Maxwell’s words; is copyright simply a ‘barrier to the free flow of information?’ (2004).
According to information provided to the Association of American Publishers by a number of its members two years ago, 'U.S. publishers across all categories lose $80 million to $100 million annually to piracy.’ (Springen, 2014). Therefore it is quite evident that it is time for a fresh perspective on this ‘strange and wondrous beast’ (Shaffi, 2014) we call copyright. Of course results from drastic changes are not going to appear over night, it ‘sounds a wonderful thing to remove territoriality and start with a global mix, but you have to be careful that you don’t remove something that is important, and then suddenly the whole contraption falls apart.’ (Shaffi, 2014).
Word count ~ 484.
Bibliography:
Abrams, D. (2013). Does Copyright Make Books Disappear?. [online] Publishing Perspectives. Available at: http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/08/does-copyright-make-books-disappear/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Albanese, A. (2014). Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Publishers Urged to Reclaim Copyright Debate. [online] PublishersWeekly.com. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/Frankfurt-Book-Fair/article/64310-frankfurt-book-fair-2014-publishers-urged-to-reclaim-copyright-debate.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Hall, F. (2013). The business of digital publishing. New York: Routledge, pp.139-155.
Maxwell, T. (2004). Is copyright necessary?. First Monday, [online] 9(9). Available at: http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1175/1095 [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Robinson, D. (2012). A New Form of DRM: A Legal and Pragmatic Solution for Protection of E-Books | Digital Book World. [online] Digitalbookworld.com. Available at: http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/a-new-form-of-drm-a-legal-and-pragmatic-solution-for-protection-of-e-books/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Shaffi, S. (2014). Caution urged around copyright changes. [online] Thebookseller.com. Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/caution-urged-around-copyright-changes [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Springen, K. (2014). What YA Publishers and Authors Can Do to Fight E-Book Piracy. [online] PublishersWeekly.com. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63357-the-piracy-problem.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Tivnan, T. (2011). The future of copyright. [online] Thebookseller.com. Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/feature/future-copyright [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Wade, A. (2010). Copyright and Advertising in the 21st century. [online] Inpublishing.co.uk. Available at: http://www.inpublishing.co.uk/kb/articles/copyright_and_advertising_in_the_21st_century.aspx [Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].