Freedom of Information Vs. Copyright and Royalties
June 24th, 2011
The internet is a wonderful way to get access to information. Yet news media and the record industry have been imploding because of an inability to figure out how to make a profit on the internet or to control access to information and entertainment in a manner that allows them to survive financially. There have been suggestions that the government subsidize print media.
Many conservatives want to end all subsidies of the arts and public journalism claiming a liberal bias or using tax dollars to support aesthetic or informational viewpoints is unconstitutional. Organizations such as BMI and ASCAP have been accused of skimming too much money from music outlets and giving too little to the artists and composers. Record companies and newspapers have been called antiquated with websites and U-tube being adequate sources of information and music. U-tube may be the wave of the future for all video also with the networks and cable channels disappearing and being replaced with all locally produced home movies and television. Or the networks, cable and government might legislate so that access is limited to those who can afford to pay royalties and obey copyrights.
I am conducting a survey and would like to know what you think is more important, Ability to make a living or freedom of information.
A) Should information from professional sites like NY Times and music sites like Rhapsody charge money? Yes or No. Comment:
B) Should Bloggers charge money or allow advertising and pay royalties to reprint articles, songs and videos? Yes or No. Comment:
C) Should copyright laws be ignored as anarchists say and distribute copy and images freely? Yes or No. Comment:
D) Generally should the capitalist model be retained with regards to the arts and literature? Yes or No. Comment:
E) Would a socialist model work better with the arts and literature supported by the state or community? Yes or No? Comment:
F) Should experts or party leaders determine what is acceptable for publication, or release? Yes or No? Comment:
G) Should the marketplace determine what is acceptable for publication or release? Yes or No? Comment:
H) Should some form of democratic decision making determine what is acceptable for publication or release? Yes or No? Comment:
I) Should the technology and its limits set the standard for what people can produce, publish, or release? Yes or No? Comment:
Each of these approaches has different social impacts and if you look around the world there are different models in different countries. I want to know which you would prefer or if you have a different notion of how things should be done, how would you do it? Some approaches are constitutional in the USA and some would demand a change the legal system as well as the economic and political system.
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