How the Law Affects Media, and How I feel About It
After reading our class materials regarding the law and media, I agree with section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, even though the law is not perfect, and knowing that with such laws, there will be cases that won’t end favorably.
In the Los Angeles Time’s interview, “Op-Ed: Section 230 created the internet as we know it. Don’t mess with it,” writer Jeff Kosseff states that, “Online platforms have been too easily weaponized by cybercriminals, terrorists, harassers, revenge pornographers and foreign adversaries in recent years, and many in Congress have rightly concluded that tech companies have not taken such threats seriously enough.” I agree with his assessment, specifically that tech companies are not doing enough, though recently we have seen some improvement by tech companies, most notably the various social media platforms, like Twitter and other websites that banned former President Trump because of his reckless comments, that resulted in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capital. And yes, I believe that not even a president, should be exempt from the law. Some cry “Freedom of Speech!” Some cry “Censorship! Some say it’s a violation of his constitutional rights. Well, what actions should companies take when a person’s perceived constitutional rights begin violating the constitutional rights of other citizens? But that’s for another post.
Moving onward, I am concerned about copyright law, because I have a personal and professional stake in the matter. Being a music producer and song writer, the question that always comes up is, “Is your stuff copyrighted?”, and there have been so many changes in the copyright laws regarding music. I speak more on this later.
There was a new law that was recently enacted, the Music Modernization Act (MMA). Overall it’s a good law for music artist, producers and song writers, and even engineers and remixers. A much needed revamping of the old copyright laws, since the advent of digital revolution. I’m all about protecting one’s tangible and intellectual property. Doing so, also safeguards one’s legacy and future generations, as they too, can benefit financially from the creative work we are doing here in the present.
“Does what you’ve learned lead you to modify how you use the media in any way?” The answer to this question is a definite yes! After reading the Los Angeles Times’ article, regarding the Communication Decency Act, I feel I have a deeper understanding of what is legally permissible, who is and who isn’t responsible for content that is posted online, as well as the consequences.
But what sparked me to dig deeper was the WIRED article about the DMCA. It lead me to look more specifically at the copyright laws regarding music. It really cleared up some concerns that I have had for a while now. I was not fully aware of the Music Modernization Act, and all of its ramifications. As I was reading it, I found myself saying, “I didn’t know you could do that now.” There is a huge financial stake, due to greater opportunities because of the digital age we are in. It’s really confirmed further why we need laws and protections, not just for our sake, but also for future generations to come.
