Response to GREGG EILERS Wk1-Reading: Copyright Issues

@ Gregg
 I think a good example of the fair use dispute in action can be found in the Associated Press (AP) vs. Shepard Fairey lawsuit regarding the Obama HOPE poster. Artist Shepard Fairey claimed the AP photo he used as inspiration for the poster fell under “fair use” as you discussed in your blog post. AP said it was an outright copyright violation. Ram (2011) reported that the lawsuit was settled out of court and both parties agreed to share the rights to the image. AP could not dispute the fact that Shepard Fairey made the photo famous. Bottom line? AP just wanted Fairey to ask for permission. I wonder if they would have said yes if he had not acted on the “Fair Use” assumption. How does this outcome impact copyright laws in the future? Does this outcome create more opportunities for artistic collaboration in similar situations?


[Image created by Jacqueline Jones]
 
Reference:
Ram, A. (2011). Lawsuit over Obama “hope” poster settled. News Briefs. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://news-briefs.ew.com/2011/01/12/lawsuit-obama-hope-poster/

Greg said on his Blog:
 “Many thoughts ran through my head as I watched the plethora of videos regarding copyright laws, Fair Use, and Creative Commons. Albeit, most of my thoughts were those of confusion and how my brain was dissecting the confusion. However, after digesting all the information, I feel that I have a better understanding of how copyright works and how organizations like Creative Commons is attempting to bridge the gap in allowing the creative mind the freedom to create and/or re-create. As technology continues to advance and public domain forces copyright laws to change and modify its parameters, Creative Commons, Fair Use, and all the other attempts to assist the freedom of creation will continue to expand. I really felt that the TED video featuring Larry Lessig put all of this into a grand perspective for me. There were many great aspects of his presentation, but I think the thing that struck me was his comments on how the "RW" (read/write) culture turned into a "RO" (read only) culture in the 20th century. Obviously we are seeing a major paradigm shift in this way of thinking because of the rapid change in technology advancement and the speed of the Internet at the turn of the 21st century. At any rate, copyright laws, Fair Use, and Creative Commons have their place, but its what is done to work with/around them to keep challenging culture to create and re-create something new and different for future generations.”