RE: [microsound] popcorn

[msglists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> so here is another problem:
> say I rent a movie, for example, a documentary on Karl Marx's 
> impact on the US labor movement after WWII (had to do that 
> sorry;) and I invite five friends over to watch and enjoy it 
> with me...
> 
> q: hasn't the  store 'lost' money on my friends watching the 
> movie with me? is that different than filesharing?

Yes, the store, or actually, the publishing company considers that they have
lost money. Many movie viewing licenses do NOT include permission to show a
film in a group.  When I consider airing documentaries and films for
courses, I must make sure that the university is licensed or has purchased
the appropriate license for academic/group viewing purposes.

For example, the Fischinger Archive has finally released some of Oskar
Fischinger's animations on DVD. However, it is only "licensed for private
home use only, all other rights reserved. "
(http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/DVD.htm) Another film I have considered
showing in class is "The Magic of Radio", a guerilla radio documentary
(http://www.heatsignature.com/radio.html).  In order to show it at a
university or in a public forum, you must purchase the "institutional use"
license. Many films I have considered for class viewing have had similar
restrictions.

I'm not sure where the line is drawn between personal, public, and
institutional viewing, but the MPAA has recently taken an interest in
regulating personal home theaters
(http://www.bbspot.com/News/2006/11/home-theater-regulations.html).

I don't see any problem with an author requesting an extra $50-75 for an
institutional license, for example, for your Karl Marx documentary. I don't
really believe that this a big concern for the MPAA. They are primarily
fighting for films that have already been distributed internationally, made
millions, and has been on national and cable TV. Does it really matter if I
screen it for five people at home?  In how many theatres can I revisit
"Brazil" or "Blade Runner"? 

I sincerely hope that U.S. citizens start taking copyright and patent laws
and restrictions more seriously. We are no longer living in a one-way media
dominion. Microsound was a "consumer as author" bellwether. The more
two-way, open-source, Creative Commons initiatives, the better. It's great
to see more creativity coming from the YouTube community than from
NBC/ABC/CBS.
_________________________________
Christopher Sorg
New Media Artist and Instructor
Communication Department
Loyola University Chicago
http://www.chrissorg.com

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