Nov 192009
 

I have an essay up over on the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing titled, “Production Protection to Copy(right) Protection: From the 10NES to DVDs” talking about how many copy protection schemes also have roots in controlling the ability create content. Simply put, copy protection retains an inherent interest in also controlling the means of production, which makes it particularly troublesome when you start talking about first amendment rights. Here is the abstract:

Much of what modern digital rights management (DRM) systems attempt to accomplish was actually forcefully implemented on videogame consoles beginning with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and SEGA Genesis system in the early 1980s. Examining the links between modern DRM mechanisms and these early production and copy protection systems can help contextualize the future of media production and access.

Nov 082008
 

Day 3 began with Pat Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media at American University delivering a keynote entitled, “Why the Digital Future is More Copyright Friendly than You Think.” The two words that she believes makes this difference are, “Fair Use.” It was an excellent talk, hoping to connect the worlds of digital media producers (the iDMAa crowd) with those of documentary film makers who have already united under the Center for Social Media in developing a set of best practices around Fair Use and Copyright.

Pat also mentioned that she is working with the ICA and communication scholars more generally in developing a set of Fair Use best practices for comm. scholarship. On November 11th, the SfSM will be releasing a set of best practices for Media Literacy Education.

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