The coming of the digital age has resulted in many boundaries becoming unclear, unstable and essentially nonexistent. One of the main issues surrounding the convergence of print and online media centers on copyright. The application of copyright laws has become harder to enforce, let alone merely quantify, as more products become ‘intangible’ via their online or virtual form. Music, for instance, is now heavily sourced via downloading files on the internet rather than being purchased physically via a clear transaction and exchange at a store. As the reigns of control become even harder it seems certain concessions and individual precedents are being made.
University of Miami’s Communications Professor Sam Terelli explains that there are four steps used to judge the need for copyright law enforcement. Firstly the nature or purpose of the product been ‘copied’ needs to be assessed. Educational or not for profit reasons will obviously be allowed more leeway than those who have a pure profit or commercial interest. The nature of the transaction is then assessed. Is the information or product being re-hashed or packaged to make money? Thirdly, the amount or substantiality is determined. If only a small paragraph from a book, for instance, is used for a book review it is likely the consequences will be minor. Lastly, the overall economic implications are weighed. The overall value or implications for the owner of the copyrighted work will take precedence. Common sense reigns supreme as there are no clear cut rules, only guidelines.
Copyright needs to be enforced enough to prevent loss of income for producers, yet it needs to have a certain elasticity to encourage free speech and the dissemination of information. Just how well this is balanced in the future will be something to follow with a keen interest.
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