Just when you think the dangers of file-sharing are slipping out of the headlines, those silly buggers pop right back onto the front page. The latest on this front blared across the cover of The Washington Post this morning, with news that dozens of U.S. federal lawmakers are being investigated by the House Ethics Committee. [...]

“We’re returning to a prior age, one where the economics of music are about performances, not recordings. You know, copyright on recorded music is only about 100 years old.” So said a professor at a dinner I attended the other night. I like this professor, he knows a fair amount about copyright (even if his [...]

Like all creative industries, the photography industry is undergoing significant change. Technologies have been of benefit to professional photographers by easing legal distribution and creating new models for licensing, and have helped them to better express themselves in their art. But technologies have also enabled infringement of their works, and have created avenues for less [...]

Today we’ll look at the meme that says artists should no longer try to make money off of their works, because in a virtual world they have no ownership of those works. We should take those works as we like and they can live off of other sources of income, including charity, i.e., a donation [...]

Call me a Luddite, call me behind the times, call me out of step with consumers (although I too am one), but like many folks of a certain age it’s becoming more difficult for me when the familiar becomes unfamiliar. That was my feeling this morning when I went out and collected my newspapers, The [...]

Several weeks ago I was visiting my hometown of Hoboken, NJ for the weekend. While there, someone mentioned that the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival would be taking place that very Sunday (September 29, 2009). I was thrilled to learn that purely by coincidence I would be able to attend one of my favorite semiannual [...]

Free. Friday night dinner in undergrad. My friends and I would hop from one art show opening to another and graze the complimentary cheese and wine table to make an evening dinner. Today I only go to art show openings if I’m interested in the art. I wouldn’t dream of going out of my way [...]

LOS ANGELES, CA – How I wish some of the bloggers who are so convinced the future of creative production requires reduction or abandonment of artists’ rights could travel in my circle and meet creators and promoters of creators who are in it for the love but also want to ensure they can keep sharing [...]

I remember seeing a Seinfeld episode where Kramer – who was always full of brilliant ideas – decided that he wanted to open a make-your-own-pizza restaurant. When he unveils his concept to Jerry, the look on Jerry’s face is one of awe. He says something to Kramer like, ‘the reason why people get pizza is [...]

Add U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) to the list of Washington policymakers insisting that there should be avenues for copyright owners and ISPs to target infringement on networks. It’s kind of hard to say we should build into law or regulations a safe harbor for illegal behavior, but it’s always nice when politicos here in [...]