Wk 1 Comment to Amanda Castaneda’s Blog

http://experiencinglearning.blogspot.com/

After viewing and reading the articles provided to us about copyright it is hard to wrap my head around how this term or law has changed and continue to change the way we share, view and create information, art, and media.

I had never particularly paid attention to some of these laws and what they truly meant. This topic has really opened my eyes to a concept that was something I had never known much about as well as Creative Commons, which seems to simplify this ever changing and relatively outdated law.

I think Creative Commons was created out of the necessity for all of the confusing copyright infringements that can happen unknowingly. Larry Lessig’s ideas were an essential step forward to help with this massive law. As technology grows and changes, transforms the way people create and view their cultural relevance. So changes in these copyright laws and new Creative Commons is inevitable and will continue to impact how media and art is shared to suit these every changing needs.

The notion of Fair Use was intended to provide a safe guard so that copyrighted material can be used or reshown but only in limited and vague circumstances. Which can seem a bit confusing.  So with the notion that, yes this term Fair Use apply and doesn’t apply to situations you may have once thought, brought fourth a Fair Use best code practices guide to help the creator, figure out some of the Fair Use Practices that are applicable to the content the creator is using to recreate his or her own work.

The case with Shepard Fairey seems to fall under these inconspicuous Fair use practices but many people fall on either side of the spectrum with this case especially because of the earlier work Fariey has created as well as not providing credit to the original artist. 

This topic has undoubtedly been an eye opening learning experience to the laws and how I look at material viewed or created.  One point that stood out particularly and can really apply to whole idea of copyright was given by Larry Lessig in his TED conference, describing the term “Democratize” which is roughly described that “anybody with access that can take sounds and images from culture to recreate and say things differently. These tools of creativity have become tools of how our kids think, speak, and their relationship to themselves.”

Amanda,

I could not agree with you more, this issue has been a really eye opener in terms of understanding the complexity of the copyright law. It is difficult topic to make an understanding of it. I agree that Creative Commons has helped with the bridge to understand the copyright infringements. As I mentioned in Del’s Blog, he video A Fair(y) Use Tale is a good way to teach students on the use of copyright. This video will also benefit the teachers, if they view it to help them understand the proper use of copyright. The issue of the copyright violations is there, now the issue is how to turn the violations into non-violations and how to teach the society of today on the correct use of copyright law.

Wk 1 Comment to Del Richards Blog

http://deledm613.blogspot.com/

Copyright is a complex subject and a subject that so many people ignore. In Brad Templeton’s article 10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained, he covers 11 different myths people believe about copyright laws. I have heard teachers and students use some of the same myths. I am not sure if they believe them or just use them for an excuse. People believe if they buy music then they can do whatever they like with it because they own it. The same is true with the Internet, students believe it is okay to grab images and use them at anytime. The software on computers today makes it so easy for people to copy.

I know teachers use copyrighted materials for educational purposes. I believe they do not understand that it has to be in small bits. The unassigned percentage for the amount of use provides a so-called loophole. The video A Fair(y) Use Tale, provides a great example of a small bit and what a great video demonstrating the use of a small bit. I think on the educational side a small bit will get the point across to students better than providing a copy of the whole article or video.

I thought the Obama hope poster article was interesting and I would have liked to see how the court system would have ruled. Did Shepard Fairey”s Obama Hope poster meet the requirements of fair use? Would it be a parody? The definition of a parody is an imitation or a version of something that falls short of the real thing. I believe it looks like the real thing. It would have been interesting to see how the court would have ruled and if Shepard had a good defensible position. Fair use is not a right but a defensible position. Shepard could have just as easily found an image in creative commons.

Del,

I could not agree with you more that copyright is a very complex subject. It is much easier to blame the myths than actually learn the accurate way to use copyright. I do not think people have ever read the copyright law, so that is where people make excuses when they violate the copyright laws. They do not make themselves aware of the correct way to use images, music, and all other copyrighted materials. The video A Fair(y) Use Tale is a great way to demonstrate students the use of copyright. I also believe that it would benefit if the video was presented to teachers, it might help them understand the proper use of copyright. There are so many websites that provide free copyright images, but still then you really have to check the small print on the license agreement on the proper use of the images. Like I said before, copyright is a very complex topic and because it is so complex, people do not want to take the time make sure they understand the correct way to use copyright.

Wk 1 - Leadership Blog

My Leadership Role Model

My role model would have to Kelli Erwin. She has accomplished many things in her life that I real admire. She is the reason I am in this EMDT program. My goal is to follow as much as possible into her footsteps. She was an Instructional Technology Specialist for the district I work for. Now she is an Implementation Specialist for Learning.com. She has provided a variety of learning experiences at the district level that made me want to learn more and better myself. She is part of the DEN Texas Leadership Council, Glogster EDU Ambassador, and a Fablevision Ambassador. For these reasons and many others, is that Kelli is my role model. I hope to be as outgoing and knowledgeable as she is. We email each other since now she travels more do to her new position. In her emails she is very encouraging and provides lots of assistance to help me succeed. My next step is to find a position as an Instructional Technology Specialist, so I can provided my knowledge and encourage others to the use of it.

WK 1 - Reading Entry

CopyRIGHT or CopyWRONG!

Copyright is an issue that everyone has a problem with and many do not understand. After reviewing all three copyright issues, they are very complex and confusing for the people, which makes people do the copying without taking in consideration that they are violating the copyright laws.

If anyone is interested in reading the copyright law document, here is the link:
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/circ92.pdf
If people would read the article, there would be more confusion on the subject because of the complexity of it.
On a video it states copyright isn’t about use, but about asking permission, that is the key to the whole copyright issue. 

It basically means use it in whatever you like, but make sure you have consent when you use it.

As a teacher, I will have to say that I have probably have broken some copyright laws, but I most likely did this for educational purposes. The school librarian has trained us on some of this copyright laws and making sure we use what is permitted and to give credit when needed.