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Lecture 13:Lecture 13:Makers, Keepers:Makers, Keepers:

Professor Victoria MengDoes information want to be free?Does information want to be free?

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Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

I. Property is a social construct.

II. Copyright serves two interests.

III. We determine the future of IP creation/distribution in the world.

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• There are many “hot topics” about the impact of emerging digital media.

Unit Three:Unit Three:Identity and CommunityIdentity and Community

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• There are many “hot topics” about the impact of emerging digital media.

• We have completed the more theoretical part of the course and established common ground.

Unit Three:Unit Three:Identity and CommunityIdentity and Community

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• There are many “hot topics” about the impact of emerging digital media.

• We have completed the more theoretical part of the course and established common ground.

• We can now put theory into practice: who are YOU and how have digital media shaped your identity?

Unit Three:Unit Three:Identity and CommunityIdentity and Community

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Public Service AnnouncementPublic Service Announcement

Check out “FMS 110: Introduction to New Media” for more information on intellectual property, copyright, fair use, and related concepts and history.

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The Social ContractThe Social Contract

“Every law the people has not ratified in person is null and void — is, in fact, not a law.”

-Rousseau

The Social Contract,Or Principles of Political Right

(Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762)

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Problems with Social ContractsProblems with Social Contracts

• We all need to agree to surrender some freedoms in order to preserve social order.

The Social Contract,Or Principles of Political Right

(Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762)

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I. Property is a Social ConstructI. Property is a Social Construct

Government and Economy are Linked

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I. Property is a Social ConstructI. Property is a Social Construct

• What constitutes property?- Tangible goods.- People?- Ideas?

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I. Property is a Social ConstructI. Property is a Social Construct

• What constitutes property?• Who can own property?

- Individuals.- Organizations.

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I. Property is a Social ConstructI. Property is a Social Construct

• What constitutes property?• Who can own property?• What can one do with the property

that one owns?- Use, trade, discard, etc.

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I. Property is a Social ConstructI. Property is a Social Construct

• What constitutes property?• Who can own property?• What can one do with the property

that one owns?• How is the value of property set?

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Tangent: History and ProgressTangent: History and Progress

Back to the Future III (Robert Zemeckis, 1990)

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Tangent: History and ProgressTangent: History and Progress

Values arise in relationto changing needs, andprogress is not inevitable. Timepieces:

Stonehenge v. Rolex

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• Intellectual Property (IP): copyright, patents, trademarks.

Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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• Intellectual Property (IP): copyright, patents, trademarks.

• Information does not behave like goods: it is less limited by scarcity and harder to be monitored for use.

Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

Blue curve:Supply

Red curve:Demand

X marks the spot

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Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

Blue curve:Supply

Red curve:Demand

X marks the spot

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• Intellectual Property (IP): copyright, patents, trademarks.

• Information does not behave like goods: it is less limited by scarcity and harder to be monitored for use.

• Lack of economic incentives can lead to low production of intellectual property.

Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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Please study Miller, 216-222, 235-257.

Constructing Intellectual PropertyConstructing Intellectual Property

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“The Congress shall have Power… To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8US Constitution

II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

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“The Congress shall have Power… To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8US Constitution

II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

Please study Flew, 209-211.

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

I. Authors/Inventors:Exclusive right (legal monopoly)

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

I. Authors/Inventors:Exclusive right (legal monopoly)Right to trade the right and to make

derivative works

J. K.Rowling

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

II. Society: A work enters the public domain when its copyright expires

A Fair(y) Use Tale

(Faden, 2007)

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

II. Society: A work enters the public domain when its copyright expires

- Constitution: 14 + 14 = 28

- 1831: 28 + 14 = 42

- 1909: multi-media; 28 + 28 = 56

- 1976: major revision; life of author + 50 = a LONG time

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

II. Society: A work enters the public domain when its copyright expires

- 1998: Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act: life of author + 70 = REALLY LONG time

- 1998: Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): criminalizes individual unauthorized digital copying

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

II. Society: Copyrighted materials can be used without payment under “Fair Use” principles (1976)

1. Purpose

2. Medium

3. Amount

4. Impact

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II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

The Hunt for Gollum (Bouchard et al, 2009)

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• Repeated extensions of copyright policy have reduced the benefits of IP production.

• Objections to copyright today:- Consumers: prices are too high- Creators: hampered creativity- Academics: benefits distributors and conglomerates

II. Copyright’s Dual PurposeII. Copyright’s Dual Purpose

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The Future of IP in the WorldThe Future of IP in the World

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

End of Lecture 13End of Lecture 13

Next Lecture: Super-Participation:

Why are people scared of fans and gamers?36