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Copyright vs. the Right to Copy Essay

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Copyright vs. the Right to Copy

Today's digital technology and the computer have changed how the average consumer can acquire information and entertainment. No longer do we have to wait for the CD to hear a new song, or the release date to watch a movie. The technology is available on our home computers. But is this an infringement on copyright? What about the rights of artists, authors, producers, or actors? Has our technology progressed so far that it infringes on these peoples' livings? It is only a matter of time before laws are passed regarding Internet use. Are we ready to give up the freedom we have had up to this point? In her essay "The Digital Rights War", Pamela Samuelson states that " The new future of technically protected …show more content…

The Mp3 player is digital and will hold a certain number of songs on a chip inside it. When the chip is full you can buy a new one or record over the old one. Sony just came out with a product called "The Memory Stick" this year. They plan to use it with their MP3 players as well as digital cameras, and other products in the future. It is a memory chip that is compatible between the products, so you only need one format of memory if you use their products. The CD Rom and CD Rom-rewritable are also popular products. These hook up to your computer and allow you to copy files or anything you want off your computer.

According to Pamela Samuelson the possibility exists that all this could soon change. In her essay, she refers to a "white paper" that was issued by the Clinton administration in 1995. I did some further research on this white paper and found a summary on line. It is actually a report on Intellectual Property rights written by the Information Infrastructure Task Force. Basically there is a committee appointed by the White House that is looking into fairly regulating the balance between artists' rights and the consumer. According to the summary "Technology has altered the copyright balance-in some instances in favor of copyright owners and in others, in favor of users. The goal of the recommendations is to clarify existing law and adapt it where the balance has shifted". (Intellectual Property and the

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