We covered a story last year in which Andy Baio was sued for his use of a Miles Davis photograph as a reference for pixel art for a tribute album he created. Now, he's spoken about copyright issues and what constitutes "fair use." There are many opinions on this, but it's a great video if you're curious about the issue -- which you should be if you're any kind of artist or image-maker.
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Whine. Whine. Whine. Copyright is broken. Video should have been 25 minutes shorter.
If you are not making money on your copyright then you are doing it wrong, and if you are not protecting your copyright then you are throwing money away.
Spoken like a true Lawyer or someone who profits from others work.
Lessig says it best (from his 2002 speech): http://randomfoo.net/oscon/2002/lessig/free.html
This is so sad. I feel like I just had a lobotomy. My creative lobe just went off.
His point is very valed. I get in the same frame of mind when I get to shoot street photography. Big names like Henri Cartier Bresson would never been abel to exist in these days as their works could be sued by many. As i see it art is at the mercy of the lawyer who just sees money. Thinking about it though a creative mind will always find away to make his way through, on the other side the lawmakers are always finding a way of making money off the creative mind.
The abuse of the law always destroys things, if we don't learn how to be tolerant and to be less selft center we are going to put a nail in to creativity, the internet and all the freedom/knowledge that carries
Here's a better discussion of it. The whole video is worth a watch for anyone who values their own time, work, and creativity.
https://youtu.be/rJ8TzCv1dfs?t=20m24s
The Miles Davis infringement is discussed at the 23:00 mark.
I'll be honest, I didn't watch this video. There has been a constant discussion for years on creative arts and copyright. My point might have been made in the video.
The one thing to remember about copyright (and patent) law in the U.S. is that it was originally designed to guaranty public access to creative works, not keep the public away from them.