The Justification of Intellectual Property Laws
Imagine, being an author of a famous children’s novel and then getting sued for copying someone’s idea. A Russian author by the name of Dmitry Yemets has felt the power of intellectual property laws when scholastic and J.M. Rowling sued him for his Novel “Tanya Grotter and the Magical Double Bass”. Although Yemets still can sell his novels in Russia he is forbidden to in the United States and Brittan due to copyright laws. Yet, is Yemets along with other authors, poets, inventors, musicians, and artists really stealing ideas or is it a form of originality? In our society today, everyone is dominated by the laws of copyrights, patents, trademarks, and etc. In a world of advance technology, consumption and competition it is not hard to believe that originality has been corrupted and that protecting ideas and information are more essential than providing access to them.
Intellectual property laws were meant to protect ideas or informational property from being copied or replicated through patents, copyrights, and trademarks as stated on the Intellectual Property’s website (Intellectual Property Law server). Individuals involved with these laws whether for or against them seem to be aiming for a specific economical goal. Many individuals who purchase copyrights, patents, and trademarks want to protect their market and profit. Other individuals might be interested in the accessibility, and open distribution of ideas and knowledge. Yet, if an individual goes against capitalistic interests they may be accused of stealing or far worse piracy. Societies like the United States are controlled by production, consumption and profiting. With this capitalistic mind set there is nothing to gain from ideas if compensation isn’t received. Therefore, because of the fear of competition, similarities in ideas and information will most likely be attacked or targeted for prohibition.
On the other hand, there are many individuals who do challenge and defy intellectual property laws. For example, the world’s radio waves have been taken over by pirated radio stations that want to go against the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is an organization that controls the running and conduct of radio stations in the United States. It is because of the FCC and Corporate monopolies that inspire certain individuals to take a stand and pirate the world’s airways. Many listings of these illegal broadcastings can be found on websites like pirate radio (Pirate Radio Central) and Radio 4 all (Radio 4 All). These websites advocate these stations to promote that radio waves should be public domain.
Furthermore there are many other justifications that can be stated on why individuals partake in the running of these stations. Many radio stations of the world are all owned by only several corporate companies. These companies therefore decide what ideas and information gets shared on the radio waves. The originality of ideas on the air waves gets limited because stations are stating only one view. For instance, clear channel a major corporate company that owns many of the radio stations in San Diego positioned a pro-active view for the War in Iraq. The radio stations played music with war propaganda and there was never any position that was for anti-war stated. This one minded view manipulates radio waves and tries to brainwash listeners. With pirate radio stations being broadcast different opinions, ideas, and information are acknowledged so listeners get the chance to hear other perspectives than just that of the corporate radio stations.
Unfortunately, corporate companies like Clear Channel are trying to shut down radio piracy. The company is campaigning through its own radio stations, commercials, and media stations promoting people to help musicians by stopping radio piracy (Clear Channel). Are corporate companies really concerned in helping musicians out or are they just watching out for their own corporate gains? And are pirate radio stations really doing damage to musical artists? There are musicians that do get financially hurt by the broadcasting of illegal radio stations, but at the same time corporate companies are ripping off the talents of artists by only giving them certain percentage of profits. While on the other hand some pirate radio stations might not even be affecting artists because they may play music from bands who are indifferent or against intellectual property laws as well. Yet, powerful companies like clear channel will continue to target illegal radio stations to make radio waves private.
It seems that free speech and information is the cause for individuals to defy intellectual property laws, but in some cases illegal actions are made towards greed and profit as well. Intellectual property is one of the major markets in the world, and when it comes down to it there are individuals that take advantage of it legally and illegally. Like the radio industry, the movie industry has its own pirates as well. However, individuals that are involved with movie piracy may or may not have the same intentions like those who are broadcasted on pirate radio. Copy movies and then selling them is quite different from broadcast a pirate radio. One difference is that pirate radios are broadcasted free, and is accessible to anyone. Movie pirating for example is copying movies before they get released and selling them for a cost. Although some people might just pirate movies for there own use and give it to their friends overall it is just benefiting the individuals that have it. It is apparent that intellectual property laws are complex, and that people who defy them don’t always do it for a just cause. It is difficult to determine what illegal actions can be justified or not, but that there are those who consider defying intellectual property laws as a form of activism.
