Copyright law erosion

[Dorsetmike]

The UK government is trying to bypass copyright of photographic images on line such that the media can use "orphan" online images in newspapers/magazines etc if they can "prove" they have been unable to find the copyright holder. The proposed legislation does not appear to define what would constitute proof.

How long before they try and find a way to grab music as well? Also how long before other governments follow suit?

http://copyrightaction.com/forum/uk-...aphy-in-public

It's a long document but worrying to see how they intend to achieve this.

[JHC]

Our politicians are to pass a law making the free d/l (torrents I assume)of music illegal and the ISP have to police it. 1st a warning then if you try it again they threaten to disconnect you fro the Internet

[Dorsetmike]

If it's breaking copyright then I can see the point, they are protecting copyright, what our lot are trying to do is to make photos (classed as orphans, i.e no immediately obvious copyright owner at on line sites like Flickr and other hosting sites), become free to media without much of a search for the owner of the copyright.

So you get stuck in hospital for a few months, or go sailing round the world and thus don't access your pics for a while, next thing you know they are in a magazine and you don't get a penny.

In both cases big business wins, in the case of stopping torrents they stop the leaks, in the other case they are saving money by not paying for pictures and at the same time using less professional photographers.

[Krummhorn]

To add, some websites where people can upload images, in some cases become the property of the site management, which lets them distribute freely to whomever they choose. It's all stated in the fine print somewhere I suppose.

I am very supportive of protecting copyright laws ... unfortunately, it's a losing battle trying to track down every entity that is doing this, but we keep trying anyway.

[ePostings]

Nearly all the images in Wikipedia are freewares. And more than ½ the images on flickr. Free images on flickr can be found via their advanced search. You can tick a CC option there.

These 2 sites are so big that you can find the image you need 9 times out of 10. Google Translate helps. Makes it possible to search flickr for keywords i Spanish, French and what ever.

My point is that's happening anyway. Lots of free images everywhere.

[JHC]

Getting back to the music thing I think if you d/l for your own personal use then very little harm is done it is the same as copying a CD for a friend. some artists are now going direct on line with their music which cuts out the middle men so you can legally d/l at a greatly reduced price or even free

[Krummhorn]

Not only CD music files, but printed scores too, are being offered at cheaper prices when the buyer downloads. I've done that myself on many occasions ... then there are the PD sites, too.

I've probably downloaded more organ scores (both purchased and from the PD sites) in the past three years that the sheer number of those greatly exceeds my library of published/printed scores that I've had for over 40 years.