First a history lesson. Copyright laws came into being in the mid 1500's as a result of theinvention of the printing press. They were intended to "protect" and "encourage" the creation of learned works. Then as now, the argument could be summarised as follows. If a creator can notearn an economic return, they will be forced to stop creating.
For years illustrators have used photographs as reference material for objects or creatures thatthey have never seen. Photographers thumb through magazines looking for new approaches andideas. This is valid. Culturally we are the visual sum of all we have ever seen. My work isinfluenced by cave drawings, Rembrandt and Degas. But here also lies the ethical question.
If you are an illustrator who needs to paint an aardvark, you might seek out ten photos ofaardvarks to see what the animal looks like. Satisfied that you have a feeling for the animal youbegin to paint. I'm flattered that one of my images helped you to understand an element of theworld around you. I hope you are as flattered when your approach to light and colour inspiresme.
On the other hand, what you could do is scan my image digitally, change the background a bitto accept copy and call that a creation. I would not be flattered. It's theft pure and simple. If Ifind out, you will learn more about Copyright law from my lawyer than you ever wanted to know.
There have always been unethical photographers, illustrators, art directors or the equivalent. The act of creation is not an easy one as any CAPIC member will admit. All it takes to remind us of that is an hour spent staring at a blank canvas or a series of polaroids that aren't getting better.The lazy and unethical will use the easy solution.
In today's environment, image theft is more devastating than ever before. If an image is illegally converted to digital format and distributed, the original image is not devalued. It is "un-valued".The image can be posted to the Internet and distributed worldwide at the speed of light. Current Copyright law permits the creator of a work to demand that the "reproduction plates" be surrendered by an infringer of Copyright. This solution is near meaningless if your image existsin original form on 10,000 computers from Hungary to Indonesia.
There is a growing movement around the world that suggests that the whole concept of copyright has been outdated by technology. It is implied that information has become a raw material that exists in the public domain. Magazines routinely use copied images. Electronic data bases include digital copies of all types of visual art. Governments are asking whether it will be possible to police copyright in the 3rd millenia. A laissez-faire attitude to Copyright only increases the momentum of disregard for creator's rights.
If you are a member of CAPIC, you have a duty to yourself and your peers to respect absolutely the Copyright of all creators. This means quite simply that you do not copy. It means no illegal software on your computer and it means no copying movies from the video store. You do not lift a visual creation or a part of it and reproduce it in another medium. Lastly you do not choose to ignore it when you see an infringement take place.
The real 21st century info-economy will be built on ideas. Respect for copyright is vital in a wired world.
Every infringement of Copyright does harm to all the members of the creating community. CAPIC encourages all its members to take a loud and active stand on the importance of this issue. If you become aware of an infringement, take the time to let the creator know that his/her work has been infringed. If you are asked to infringe Copyright, sieze the moment to educate whoever has made the suggestion. This is the wrong time to remain silent.
A certain Pastor Niemoller has been quoted as follows about the onslaught of Nazism. "When they came for the Jews I didn't protest because I wasn't Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not protest because I was not Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to protest." I urge you to find your voice.