Why Isn't There A Fan-Use Exception To Copyright Law?
from the questions-questions-questions dept
Cory Doctorow does a nice job pointing out yet another ridiculous result of copyright law these days: criticism is considered fair use, but promoting the works as a fan is not in many cases. He talks about some of the situations (similar to many we've written about) of entertainment companies cracking down on fans who build tributes to the works that they love. This seems like the sort of thing that copyright law should encourage: having fans express their appreciation for works and sharing it with others? Yet, we don't. Instead, there are protections for critics. So you're in better position to do something with the work of someone else if you hate it, rather than if you love it. Doesn't that seem odd? And, on top of that, it raises a good question: should "fan use" be considered a type of "fair use"?Filed Under: copyright, criticism, fair use, fan use, praise
