The Internet is rapidly changing the way in which we view, and share written, and visual content. Copyright law has become more complex as artists, bloggers, and writers instantly share their photos, videos, ebooks, and stories across the world in seconds.
The massive exchange of content on the Internet is staggering, for example…
- In 2014 there were around 172 million Tumblr, 75.8 million WordPress blogs, 1.3 million Technorati blogs, not to mention Blogger (the most popular platform) who doesn’t share public statistics.
- 1.35 billion monthly active Facebook users worldwide.
- 200 billion tweets per year.
- If you printed off the 21.9 billion photos uploaded to Instagram in a year they would reach 3946.33 miles (6,351 kilometres). That’s a whole lot of selfies! It would take Kim Kardashian over 286 million years to take that many! (Check out this cool graphic below: https://photoworld.com/photos-on-the-web/).
Now it’s easier than ever to copyright your creation. Follow this link to register online.Â
It’s good to remember, once anything is released on the web, it’s impossible to take it back. As a result, the law has had to tighten copyright legislation to safeguard protected material.
In an interesting article, Techrepublic.com states that advancing technology is rapidly making enforcement of traditional copyright-dependent business models essentially impossible.
Many argue that the Internet is making copyright obsolete. This is a subject artists and creative entrepreneurs need to stay up to date on!Â
This comment really has nothing to do with copyright. What it pertains to are those drop down title and menu bars at the top of this website. Do you realize that they take up about half the screen real estate on my monitor? I would include a screenshot, this platform doesn’t seem to allow that. Just thought you’d like to know.
Davy: Its simple hit the READER button on your browser [iMAC or similar].
Regardless of your personal beliefs about what the state of copyright law should be, the reality is that advancing technology has made the enforcement of traditional copyright infringement absolutely impossible.
Unless you have a bottomless pot of money. And a team of the top lawyers…a nation of art internet site watchers…another nation of internet users checking all product introductions for their artwork etc.
And they would need to work in shifts 24 hours a day, round the clock and 365 days a year…and still probably fail to check the past history fully.
A big ticket work of art will always attract piracy…they want to cash in quickly before you spot them at it.
So for strict copyright control: don’t make art, don’t stick it on any website, don’t sell it; just keep it all in your head, do not even tell anyone you’ve thought up an artwork…ridiculous, I know…but?
Hi Phil,
During the days of my ‘Facebook copycat situation’ I spoke with a Copyright Law expert. He basically told me what you stated. I would need a bottomless pot of money, and even then I wouldn’t win. It was a bit disheartening, but at least the attorney was honest enough to tell me that!
As for your thoughts on copyright control, I think I’ll take my chances. 😉
It would be nice if people would at least acknowledge the creators when “sharing” their work. Unattributed art and prose are ubiquitous on social media. Of course, it’s even worse when people pass it off as their own.
Hello Andrew, of course I agree! Links to the original content or artist’s website would be even better. Hopefully, this will become the standard in the future. Thank you!
Lori, I love your articles and have found them very fascinating. I did think you were going to address copyright in more detail. Recently I had to stop a Google+ community member from my Online Art Exhibition and Marketing Group from posting photoshopped versions of random photos he took of the internet due to Copyright Law. Additionally, I researched the challenges posed by the internet and copyright and also wrote a blog article on the subject. More details are on my blog too. You are welcome to share them. Here is the link: http://drawing2canvas.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-seemingly-harmless-share-can-get.html
Lori, I love your articles and have found them very fascinating. I did think you were going to address copyright in more detail. Recently I had to stop a Google+ community member from my Online Art Exhibition and Marketing Group from posting photoshopped versions of random photos he took of the internet due to Copyright Law. Additionally, I researched the challenges posed by the internet and copyright and also wrote a more detailed blog article on the subject, but I like your visual better. 🙂 I’m not trying to step on your toes, but I think we do need to raise awareness about the subject. You are welcome to share them. Here is the link: http://drawing2canvas.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-seemingly-harmless-share-can-get.html
Hello Tina, thank you for adding to this conversation. Copyright Law is a complex subject and I appreciate your research. I’ll check out your blog! Thank you for stopping by and sharing. 🙂
Thank you Lori. Are there any ways to find out if someone is using our art for commercial use?
i am a kid but i rote a book and posted it on my blog should i put a copyright symbol by the title so nobody’s copying it.