Homework

I think the issues of copyright are slightly more urgent than the government is willing to acknowledge. I'll admit, I'm not personally up to date with all the latest legislature- let alone legislature particular to this issue. But based on what I watched, it's kind of ridiculous. So, basically, an artist can funnel his/her creative spirit into a peice of artwork and upon finishing they are given two choices.... keep it to yourself or risk endless self-sabotage in the unforgiving cyberworld. Either way, the artist is in a lose-lose situation. The idea that someone could take your artwork, tweek it slightly, and sell it as their own (putting forth minimal- if any- creative effort) and make a substancial profit entirely at the artists expense is ridiculous. I suppose the logical side in me accepts the dog-eat-dog mentality.. I guess that's called capitalism? But the story that really bothered me was the little girl who's face was used as a deragatory ad across the world without her knowledge. That crosses multiple lines. Not only did the cell phone company exploit the creative rights to the photograph, but they undeniably exploited this young girls identity. Her face, the most identifiable part of the human anatomy, was literally covertly stolen and claimed by this company... using and manipulating her sense of identity and presenting it to the millions. That is absolutely ridiculous. Good for her, she should get as much money as she wants. It's just downright insensitive to the times and context for image hosting sites to be so careless and manipulative. It should never be legal for someone to usurp someones artwork for a profit. If I stole the shoe off your foot, changed the laces, and sold it again- would it not still be considered thievery? If I borrowed it to copy and make a shoe pile scupture purely for the enjoyment of others... that's art. Or, just take a few bucks out of the big wig budget to just pay the poor guy for his shoe!? ugh,