Copyright Presentation

This past Tuesday in our class, we were given a presentation on copyright laws. Some of what was said I had heard before, but other information explained truly shocked me. Because of my work on my high school’s yearbook and website, I am familiar with public domain (works that do not require permission to access and/or copy) and the time period it requires to apply to a work (seventy years after the death of the creator). I was not aware that copyright laws have existed since 1790 and predate the Bill of Rights. I was also unaware that copyright laws are taken so seriously, more specifically, that it is a felony to commit a copyright infringement involving more than 10 copies and a value of more than $2500.

I refuse to lie, I have used the computer program limewire in the past to illegally download music. Throughout all of my high school years, in fact, if ever I heard a song on the radio or television that I liked, I would search for it on limewire and download it immediately.
When I arrived to Trinity campus and was informed that all programs such as limewire, frostwire, kazaa, etc. were strictly forbidden, I was more than a little incensed. My best friend goes to the University of Texas at San Antonio not fifteen minutes away, and she can download as much as she wants. During the presentation, however, I was informed that if a student is using such a program to illegally download, and the University becomes aware of it, they are legally obligated to give that student’s name to the government. I also started to consider how much I was hurting the writers and performers of the songs I was stealing. What kind of a fan was I if the only way I showed my appreciation of their music was to refuse to pay money for it, the money that the artist had rightfully earned?

I used to argue with myself that music was overpriced, and that if I went out and spent thirteen dollars on a CD when I only end up really liking three of the songs, I was being cheated. However, programs like itunes and napster have rectified this by offering thirty seconds of each song on the internet so it is possible to determine whether or not a buyer likes the song. Also, each song is only ninety-nine cents, which no one can argue is too expensive.

So, as of now, I am perfectly alright with going to the bookstore and buying an itunes gift card, as opposed to risking federal offense by illegally downloading my music. I respect the artists who make the music I listen to, and think it is only right that I purchase said music legally.

Thank You,
Eva Thompson
ethomps4@trinity.edu