Monday, September 16, 2013

What is fair by Tina Fair



My Name is Tina Fair. As an Artist manager, I will be offering my services under the business name Fair Employment and Entertainment Opportunities. It would only be fitting that consumers expect me to have some knowledge around issues of what is fair in the Entertainment Industry. As a non - Attorney, it is important to recognize that I am not trained to give legal advice nor do I claim to have the vast education of an individual who has successfully obtained a juris doctorate degree.

To gain some insight on the legality of fair rights, this post will review contemporary challenges and strategies derived from three different podcast. Developed by Attorneys with specific training in Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law, the following links, provide the full context of the podcast.


From the first podcast, we learn about the importance of copyright to maintain a fair opportunity for the artist to drive sales of their work. This challenge overall has become more complicated as new technologies emerge. The specific development of the Internet has created the biggest threat to the sale of CD’s. The CD itself was created in 1989. Initially, the CD was celebrated because it replaced the cassette and its digital quality was more precise. According to the author, “The problem with the digital source like CD, is it created a perfect copy. It also made perfect generational copies/ (a copy of a copy).”[1]

Having listened to this podcast, there is a review of the problem with copyright as it relates to the Internet. What is revealed is the need to manage the fear that eroded in the recording industry. The Recording Industry Association has been designing models to limit the access and eliminate the threat of [RIA]’s unique value to the artist.

According to the podcast, the answer to the machine is in the machine,”

After the creation of Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) to appease [RIA], came [DNR]. Neither of the systems was completely effective. Consumers rallied for rights to freedom of information on the Internet without regulations.

 As the power of individual access to Internet forged underground methods of acquiring and distributing music, the need for the artist to claim their Intellectual Rights is further increased. Steve Jobs showed the world in 2005 the answer to what was fair. He introduced the iPod. Steve Jobs introduced the iPod as a resolution to the challenge. Siding against DNR.




By the year 2012 rappers begin to design their own innovations to respond to the challenge of "the machine is in the machine,'  Rapper LL cool J launched his new studio like technology to create music in real time. As new inventions wrestle to explore what is fair in copyrights of sounds, it is important to seek permission of trademarks.



The second podcast discuss some of the risk and threats to trademark permissions when branding in social media.  
According to the podcast, if is an artist who is using the Internet should not only protect their name domain “one must take a multidisciplinary strategy” [2]. 
  1. ·      There must be a squatter’s policy to detect the misuse of your site.” 
  2. ·      The other way to protect the building of your brand would be
  3. ·      It is also important to register your marks with trademark to prevent infringements

As social media becomes more than the primary method of accessing a business and the work of an artist, this information is helpful in learning strategies that can result in a fair practice. If an artist believes their rights have been infringed upon, these practices can improve the chances of a lawsuit that results in a winning case.

·      The final podcast from Entertainmentlaw.com Episode 37 reveals many areas of concern for artist across a large span of disciplines. Some hot topics include 
  • ·      Fair Use of a word
  • ·      Fair use of a name
  • ·      Fair use of an image
  • ·      Fair use of the definition Net Profit

Many cases are cited to demonstrate the increased need to be aware of the style of word used when seeking trademark permissions. One case cited a law suit filed by an artist who calls herself the “Persian Barbie.” Unable to win the case against the TV Show who uses the same name for a character, we learn that it was fair use because the trademark name was “ descriptive,” therefore more difficult to obtain an official trademark.

In summary the increased speed of information in real time creates increased needs to protect the rights of work by artist across disciplines. With so much freedom of information it is important to tap into the wisdom of professionals and Attorneys as in these podcast to be certain and aware of what is or is not fair.

References:


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