Copyright and its Various rights
You are the original composer and performing artist of a hot, new pop
song. Your music director, Christine, has praised you on your composition
and she feels that your song is going to generate significant revenue. You
are very enthusiastic and talk to your sales manager, Robin, about the
projected income. To your surprise, you learn that your composition has
been illegally distributed among a very large audience of music lovers and
that the expected revenue projections seem to be unachievable. You try to
figure out the reasons for the illegal distribution. Robin tells you about
peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and how P2P—an emerging social networking
tool—is gaining popularity especially when it comes to sharing mp3 music.
With the consent of your entire team, you decide to have a press
conference. Robin asks you to emphasize the following points to help your
case
• Violation of your copyright privileges, and how you feel knowing that
thousands of users are simply copying and sharing your composition,
for which they might have paid for otherwise
• Enabling your case as a consideration in the purview of "fair use"
under the law
• Your feeling about the reduction in your expected income from your
creative efforts that you will face due to the unethical and illegal file
sharing technology
• Legal remedies that you will be seeking
Sample Solution
Press Conference Talking Points
Introduction
Thank you all for joining us today. As many of you know, I recently released a new song that has been generating a lot of excitement.
Copyright Infringement and Impact on Fans
However, I'm here to address a serious issue impacting the music industry, and specifically, my creative work. My song has unfortunately been the target of widespread illegal distribution through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. This means thousands of people are copying and sharing my music for free, when many would have happily purchased it.
Full Answer Section
Fair Use Does Not Apply It's important to understand that this is not a case of "fair use." Fair use allows limited copying for purposes such as education or criticism. Simply enjoying a song and sharing it with everyone you know falls outside these protected uses. Loss of Income and Discouragement This illegal file sharing significantly reduces the income I receive from my hard work and creativity. As musicians, we pour our hearts and souls into our music, and it's disheartening to see our efforts undervalued in this way. This not only affects me, but countless artists who rely on music sales for a living. Moving Forward - Legal Action My team and I are taking this matter seriously. We are currently exploring legal options to protect my copyright and hold those responsible accountable. Conclusion I urge everyone to respect the rights of artists and the music industry. There are many legal ways to enjoy music, such as streaming services and purchasing downloads. Let's work together to ensure that creativity is valued and artists are fairly compensated for their work. Thank you. Additional Points to Consider:- Express your passion for music and the message behind your song.
- Acknowledge the positive impact your fans have had, despite the illegal sharing.
- Encourage fans to support artists through legal means.
- If relevant, mention any steps you're taking to make your music more accessible, such as affordable pricing or special promotions.