I think it's funny that people say that Avatar ripped off both Independence Day...
They both involve invasions from other planets. They both attempt a peaceful solution to the invasion. We and the Na’vi both learn that the invaders are amoral consumers of resources who have destroyed every other planet they’ve/we’ve come into contact with. We and the Na’vi contact other countries/tribes to get them on board for the coming battles. Right before the final battles President Whitmore and Jake Sully give over-the-top impassioned speeches about how the invaders must be defeated to save their planets from eradication. And despite overwhelming odds, we and the Na’vi defeat the invaders using a combination of the invader’s technology with our/their own.
.... and Pocahontas. Both stories deal with foreigners attacking a less technologically advanced culture and how one of the attackers has to change sides to save the woman he loves.
But yet no one ever argues that Independence Day ripped Pocahontas. Heck, when H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds, not a single person complained that he stole Pocahontas' life story.
It should be clear to anyone with a brain that the underlying ideas of the stories are common because they're very popular. And after a while they become so popular for so long, they become universal.
I think it's funny that people say that Avatar ripped off both Independence Day...
They both involve invasions from other planets. They both attempt a peaceful solution to the invasion. We and the Na’vi both learn that the invaders are amoral consumers of resources who have destroyed every other planet they’ve/we’ve come into contact with. We and the Na’vi contact other countries/tribes to get them on board for the coming battles. Right before the final battles President Whitmore and Jake Sully give over-the-top impassioned speeches about how the invaders must be defeated to save their planets from eradication. And despite overwhelming odds, we and the Na’vi defeat the invaders using a combination of the invader’s technology with our/their own.
.... and Pocahontas. Both stories deal with foreigners attacking a less technologically advanced culture and how one of the attackers has to change sides to save the woman he loves.
But yet no one ever argues that Independence Day ripped Pocahontas. Heck, when H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds, not a single person complained that he stole Pocahontas' life story.
"the university police got involved, taking down the poster and claiming that it "depicts violence and mentions violence and death."
The University of Wisconsin-Stout must have the worst literature department in the country. Heck, their entire library must consist of Archie comic books.
"We are concerned that the bill may have unintended consequences that may do more harm than good."
The naivety is so refreshing. Guys, the consequences have all been thought out in excruciating detail. It's just that the copyright industry doesn't give a rip about our first amendment rights or the integrity of the infrastructure of the internet.
One of these days the RIAA and the MPAA are going to realize that piracy is not their biggest biggest. Their biggest problem is that artists, entertainers, producers, musicians, etc. will suddenly realize they no longer need middlemen.
God, wouldn't it be great if we had a capitalist economy and different businesses could simply compete for customers by offering the better services, products, and prices?!
"Perhaps they should have held a hearing that included some of these people"
It sounds like you want Congress to pass laws based upon objective facts and reasoned criteria rather than on how much election campaign money will be donated. I won't hold my breath waiting for that.
What's with the rush? Slow down, the internet will still be here to destroy next year. Unless, of course, they're quickly cramming the legislation through so no one has a chance to review it before it's passed.
"So it chooses legislation to focus on based on how it will bring out those interested in contributing to campaigns"
So that's why Congress is so obsessed with copyright. We're in a middle of a terrible recession, war, terrorism, the destruction of our civil liberties, but yet Congress and the Senate are obsessed with protecting dead business models?
They know that the RIAA and MPAA are more then willing to write huge checks.
A person merely orally expressing an opinion isn't copyrightable because it's not fixed. If I asked you what you think of such and such, your response is not copyrightable unless it's in a fixed medium. The copyright to the video is held by whoever produced it or by whoever held the camera.
Mike's right, there is no copyright issue here by will.i.am.
I've never seen the video, so maybe I should shut up...
But merely because you perform on a song does not automatically give you a copyright. So, for example, the bass player for Guns 'n Roses cannot issue takedowns on Guns 'n Roses songs he finds on youtube.
will.i.am might have a publicity rights claim. He might have a contract claim. But I highly doubt he has a copyright claim to the song or video.
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
Re: Re:
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
Re: Re:
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
I think it's funny that people say that Avatar ripped off both Independence Day...
They both involve invasions from other planets. They both attempt a peaceful solution to the invasion. We and the Na’vi both learn that the invaders are amoral consumers of resources who have destroyed every other planet they’ve/we’ve come into contact with. We and the Na’vi contact other countries/tribes to get them on board for the coming battles. Right before the final battles President Whitmore and Jake Sully give over-the-top impassioned speeches about how the invaders must be defeated to save their planets from eradication. And despite overwhelming odds, we and the Na’vi defeat the invaders using a combination of the invader’s technology with our/their own.
.... and Pocahontas. Both stories deal with foreigners attacking a less technologically advanced culture and how one of the attackers has to change sides to save the woman he loves.
But yet no one ever argues that Independence Day ripped Pocahontas. Heck, when H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds, not a single person complained that he stole Pocahontas' life story.
The same is true of Star Wars. People have claimed that it was merely a ripoff of ancient myths, of Flash Gordon, of the Japanese story The Hidden Fortress, and a retread of a western set in space.
It should be clear to anyone with a brain that the underlying ideas of the stories are common because they're very popular. And after a while they become so popular for so long, they become universal.
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
Re: Re:
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
They both involve invasions from other planets. They both attempt a peaceful solution to the invasion. We and the Na’vi both learn that the invaders are amoral consumers of resources who have destroyed every other planet they’ve/we’ve come into contact with. We and the Na’vi contact other countries/tribes to get them on board for the coming battles. Right before the final battles President Whitmore and Jake Sully give over-the-top impassioned speeches about how the invaders must be defeated to save their planets from eradication. And despite overwhelming odds, we and the Na’vi defeat the invaders using a combination of the invader’s technology with our/their own.
.... and Pocahontas. Both stories deal with foreigners attacking a less technologically advanced culture and how one of the attackers has to change sides to save the woman he loves.
But yet no one ever argues that Independence Day ripped Pocahontas. Heck, when H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds, not a single person complained that he stole Pocahontas' life story.
The same is true of Star Wars. People have claimed that it was merely a ripoff of such disparate sources such as ancient myths, of Flash Gordon, of the Japanese story The Hidden Fortress, and a retread of a western set in space.
It should be clear to anyone with a brain that the underlying ideas of the stories are common because they're very popular.
On the post: How Firefly Fans Made One University's Campus Safe For Free Speech
The University of Wisconsin-Stout must have the worst literature department in the country. Heck, their entire library must consist of Archie comic books.
On the post: Graphic Artists Guild Changes Mind: Withdraws SOPA Support
The naivety is so refreshing. Guys, the consequences have all been thought out in excruciating detail. It's just that the copyright industry doesn't give a rip about our first amendment rights or the integrity of the infrastructure of the internet.
Where you see problems, they see profits.
On the post: Louis CK: Over $1 Million In Sales In Just 12 Days For DRM-Free Download
Re:
WTF? I meant, "biggest problem."
On the post: Louis CK: Over $1 Million In Sales In Just 12 Days For DRM-Free Download
On the post: Who Wants To Own Righthaven.com? Domain Seized, About To Be Auctioned
On the post: Lamar Smith Says 'Just Joking...' About Tomorrow; SOPA Markup Postponed
On the post: China Ramps Up Online Censorship Efforts As US Congress Gives Them Perfect Cover
When I do it, I do it sarcastically.
On the post: Local Bookstores Call For Boycott Of Amazon For Advertising Their Prices
On the post: Journalists And Key Engineers Who Built The Internet: Completely Opposed To SOPA
It sounds like you want Congress to pass laws based upon objective facts and reasoned criteria rather than on how much election campaign money will be donated. I won't hold my breath waiting for that.
On the post: Tons Of Amendments Proposed For SOPA
This wouldn't be the first time.
On the post: Lessig On The Daily Show: The Corruption And Extortion Of Congress
So that's why Congress is so obsessed with copyright. We're in a middle of a terrible recession, war, terrorism, the destruction of our civil liberties, but yet Congress and the Senate are obsessed with protecting dead business models?
They know that the RIAA and MPAA are more then willing to write huge checks.
On the post: Senator Briefly Brings Fake Driver's License App To The Public Eye Before Having It 'Taken 'Round Back And Shot'
Combined with some carbon paper, a carbon paper press, and some laminate, you could be genuine, certified ID thief... in the 80s.
On the post: Megaupload Sues Universal Over Questionable Video Takedown, As Will.i.am Says He Sent Takedown Too
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
A person merely orally expressing an opinion isn't copyrightable because it's not fixed. If I asked you what you think of such and such, your response is not copyrightable unless it's in a fixed medium. The copyright to the video is held by whoever produced it or by whoever held the camera.
Mike's right, there is no copyright issue here by will.i.am.
On the post: Megaupload Sues Universal Over Questionable Video Takedown, As Will.i.am Says He Sent Takedown Too
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Megaupload Sues Universal Over Questionable Video Takedown, As Will.i.am Says He Sent Takedown Too
Re: Re:
But merely because you perform on a song does not automatically give you a copyright. So, for example, the bass player for Guns 'n Roses cannot issue takedowns on Guns 'n Roses songs he finds on youtube.
will.i.am might have a publicity rights claim. He might have a contract claim. But I highly doubt he has a copyright claim to the song or video.
Next >>