Update: This article was written in 2013. Please keep that in mind before applying your diagnosis. Just thought it was interesting to share almost 10 years on.
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Remix is known as an appropriation of content by either copying, transforming, or combining elements with other content. It is prominent in the music industry, but the term remix can also apply to the adaption of other media content that we see in movie adaptions of books, tv shows and toys. Many people choose to remix different content in order to re-contextualise the original, or in order to convey a message that would be more effective as a 'mashup'. Remix is defined as being a pastiche of varying 'original' content that can include references to media that has shaped culture and remixed material is effective in redelivering meaning in a contemporary context.
The term 'remix' used to referring commonly to special edition or one off songs but has been redefined with the rise of internet culture. As Johan Soderberg states 'remix can be almost free'. Given that individuals have a stable internet connection, access to content on a digital forum can be easily obtained. The most prominent examples of remix in internet culture include memes- images that have a recurring theme of varying situations captioned under known iconography, and 'viral videos'- filmed footage that has gained rapid popularity on streaming sites such as Youtube. Remixing has become increasingly popular due to the internet, and enables a participatory culture.
Although remixing occurs most commonly amongst internet users, the appropriation of original content and ideas is nothing new and has been occurring in traditional forms of media even today. Kirby Ferguson (2011) notes that the 74 out of 100 of the highest grossing films of all time have been sequels, remakes or adaptions of other content. Some of the largest film franchises are based off books and comics. The 1939 adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind, adjusted to inflation, is the highest grossing film of all time. Many fans of the Marvel universe liken The Avengers (2012) film remixing several Marvel comic superheroes to a narrative arc in the series The Ultimates (via. AV Club- Game Society). The film made the highest grossing opening weekend of all time with over 207 million dollars (Boxofficemojo 2013). It was also the fastest film to surpass sales of 500 million dollars in twenty three days. The success of remixed movies proves that remixing content is not only successful, but that larger industries have been capitalising on the concept of remix since these media forms existed.
With the success of remixing in the film and game industry, it seems illogical that the government wishes to restrict the right to remix. It is important to not that remixing is not illegal and it is not plagiarising. Rights to use certain content come under Creative Commons licences where 'some rights reserved'. As Lessig claims, "remix exists in complementary [to original content], not the competitive market" (2008). Open source content is free for consumers and creators of derivative works, in comparison to traditionally enforced copyright where there are several problems for remix creators. Matthew Ingram of GigaAom compares remix culture to the prohibition laws of the 20s- copyright laws seem to have no significant effect on the actual infringement of copyright. According to the US Copyright Office (2013),the median cost to litigate a copyright infringement lawsuit with less than $1 million at stake through appeal is $350,000. Digital-Digest (2011) reveals that over 100,000 copyright disputes were filed in the year 2010 with 71,000 still ongoing as of February 2011. Although there are measures taken place to allow some rights for content, the violation of copyright laws lead to extreme monetary repercussions.
Many content creators who remix content are also implicated in copyright issues as the copyright laws against content other than written are still unclear to many, including the government. Several content creators, including Lessig himself, have experienced the convoluted copyright laws currently in place on media platforms such as Youtube, whereby the copyright takedown process is computer generated to issue automated DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) notifications irregardless of whether content complies with fair use (2010 via TED). Not only is funding wasted in restricting copyright laws, but creativity and the production of content is also discouraged. The social component of remixing and participatory culture is also discouraged through remix restrictions.
The right to remix should not be restricted because it would mostly impact the rights of individuals as opposed to large corporations. Disputes can only be settled through monetary reimbursement, empowering larger groups whom have the suitable resources to control their content. Artist Danger Mouse produced a remixed album entitled Grey, combining White by The Beatles and The Black Album by Jay Z. The remix album lead to several criticisms by the industry upon the basis that it was an infringement of copyright. Kirby Ferguson notes that the control over content is purely 'unfair competition'. The basis behind remix restrictions stems from the monopoly over content in a Capitalist industry, yet as mentioned above, the Industry themselves are best at appropriating content for the masses. It is clear that restrictions are undefined and arguable unfair as they are in favour of affluent corporations.
As Ferguson claims, "creation requires influence" and therefore remix is the basis of all creativity (2012). Remix should not be restricted because it has already produced some of the most influential products of our culture. Henry Ford, pioneer of Ford Motors and the assembly line process said "I invented nothing new. I simply assembled the discoveries of other men...progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready and then it is inevitable". Artists such as Bob Dylan appropriated several compositions of older songs such as Nottamum Town and The Patriot Game into his songs Masters of War and With God on Our Side respectively, and music sampling in genres such as Swing are commonplace. The creator of Apple, Steve Jobs himself stated in 1996 "I've been shameless of stealing good ideas". The right to remix should no be restricted as it has proven to produce culturally valuable content.
Remix has encouraged the changing way in which we as a society interact with one another. Users form a larger global community with remix culture as it is arguably a democratic forum in which accessibility and ease of creation encourage mass participation. Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit remarks "[on Reddit] great ideas can spread and flourish in a way that they couldn't before". The website is one of the largest communities online with 37 billion pageviews and 400 million unique hits in 2012 (thenextweb.com). Lessig suggests that the internet is a powerful tool- not a fad- with over 100 million blog users in an "ecosystem of reputation" (2008). Here, culturally valuable content is determined by the masses through feedback, comments and subsequently popularity as compared to being determined by the distributor. This leads to a stronger sense of individual freedom as well as a stronger bond within a community, which is imperative in improving and progressing as a society.
Harsh penalties and restrictions on the right to remix are not only a hinderance to the development of culture, but also unfair in many respects on the individual. With the severe monetary consequences of violating content copyright, it only seems redundant implicate individuals as funding could be allocated to other areas. Not only is remix culture transforming how we identify with communities, our perception of content creation through remixing is being reshaped and empowering the arts and creativity within society. Remix is effective in making points about culture through symbolism and recontextualised meaning (Lessig 2008). Appropriation has proven to create culturally valuable content throughout history, and continues to do so through new media platforms and because of this, the right to remix should not be restricted.
NO.
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