I did not initially agree with much of the red tape concerning something as simple as taking a photograph, although I understood the litigations behind it all. The heart of my passion for photography has always resided in photojournalism, and although I do enjoy fun photo shoots just as much as the next photographer, I would be much more content simply documenting the world as it unfolds and reporting it back to the people. However, it’s not nearly that simple, and anything in enjoyable in life rarely is. “On the one hand, the owner can produce and sell unlimited copies of, say, a software program; but on the other hand, the owner has no easy way to determine if someone is using the program for free.” (Introduction to Business Law, Beatty/Samuelson, pg. 502) Although many people do not obey the laws of copyright or the constraints of fair use, these laws are put in place to – get this! – actually help.
Artists, writers, musicians, and inventors of the world need these laws in place to protect themselves as well as what they’re sharing with the rest of us. “Some commentators suggest that the United States has been a technological leader partly because its laws have always provided strong protection for intellectual property.” (Introduction to Business Law, Beatty/Samuelson, pg. 502) I am the type of personality that flourishes on fact and logic versus emotions and dreams, but even I can become weighed down with the enormity of the technicalities involved with law and business – especially as an art type! It’s difficult to find this subject matter appetizing in any shape or form, but it is necessary, and sometimes what is best for us isn’t the most inspiring of things. It is these particular laws, however, that allow us to be creative without penalty or at the expense of someone else. “The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act permits both trademark owners and famous people to sue anyone who registers their name as a domain name in ‘bad faith.’” (Introduction to Business Law, Beatty/Samuelson, pg. 512) There will always be some form of theft online because it is unavoidable and because many people do not know that they are violating any laws, but that is where it is our responsibility as professionals and creators to not only know the laws, but to educate others and to enforce those laws – because we may not always be able to rely on lawyers to do the work for us.
Artists, writers, musicians, and inventors of the world need these laws in place to protect themselves as well as what they’re sharing with the rest of us. “Some commentators suggest that the United States has been a technological leader partly because its laws have always provided strong protection for intellectual property.” (Introduction to Business Law, Beatty/Samuelson, pg. 502) I am the type of personality that flourishes on fact and logic versus emotions and dreams, but even I can become weighed down with the enormity of the technicalities involved with law and business – especially as an art type! It’s difficult to find this subject matter appetizing in any shape or form, but it is necessary, and sometimes what is best for us isn’t the most inspiring of things. It is these particular laws, however, that allow us to be creative without penalty or at the expense of someone else. “The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act permits both trademark owners and famous people to sue anyone who registers their name as a domain name in ‘bad faith.’” (Introduction to Business Law, Beatty/Samuelson, pg. 512) There will always be some form of theft online because it is unavoidable and because many people do not know that they are violating any laws, but that is where it is our responsibility as professionals and creators to not only know the laws, but to educate others and to enforce those laws – because we may not always be able to rely on lawyers to do the work for us.
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