Week 1: Muddy - Copyright Laws and Implications

The first week of coursework was very straightforward with an introduction to search and netiquette principles that helped prepare students with using the internet. The coursework also included an overview of copyright laws and their implications towards students and society. This concept was difficult to grasp because the copyright laws are so vague that they could virtually apply to everyone. The laws are too misconstrued to allows individuals to distinguish between what can and cannot be used. While I found the articles that were posted pertaining to Copyright laws informative, they just made the concept even more difficult to understand due to being over burdened with information.

Unfortunately the line that distinguished a copyright infringement is very fine and difficult to define. In cases where a large copyright infringement has occurred it becomes easy for a judiciary system to enforce the law. For example, if an artist blatantly copied lyrics from another artist and used it in their song, it would be easy for the original artist to sue. However, in much smaller cases where a student downloads music or unknowingly copies a minimal amount of information for a paper, it is almost impossible for the author to find the violator. Besides, for the original author to take them to court over such irrelevant grounds would be a waste of time for both parties.

Through my research, I have concluded it is almost impossible to put a firm definition to copyright laws. I came across a website that dis-spelled several myths regarding copyrights: http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html. This website helped me understand and distinguish somethings that are and aren't copyright infringements. Another link, which is contained in the same website, gave an easy to understand and good introduction to copyright laws, that can be found here:http://www.templetons.com/brad/copyright.html. That website does an excellent job of introducing copyright laws by saying:"Copyright law secures for the creator of a creative effort the exclusive right to control who can make copies, or make works derived from the original work. There are a lot of subtleties and international variations but that's the gist of it. If you create something, and it fits the definition of a creative work, you get to control who can make copies of it and how they make copies, with some important exceptions."

In the end my understanding of copyright laws has dramatically improved. I feel more confident in how to distinguish what I can and can't use, and how to properly use items that are copyrighted.