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Copyright is history - by @confluencemedia
# Copyright is history What if this whole **copyright** discussion becomes obsolete? It looks like a long way to find out what is stolen and what is not. What if we live in a world where abundance is the basic thought of where we share from? On the one hand we shout 'share share' on the other hand we say 'don't steal'. To me this whole copyright struggle looks like something that is at the end of it's life. I am not implying that it is over now, so to all photographers and artists on the internet: think about it. What if you only put on the internet what you really want to share, from a feeling of abundance, nothing more. Rethink the share model as: everything I put on the internet is for everybody, for the global community. Just as a practice, not as a must. How would that feel? ## What differs inspiration from plagiarism? “Originality has always been a questionable phenomenon. What differs inspiration from plagiarism? Especially in the digital age where everything is essentially already a representation, a copy without an original. Whether it’s samples in music or the digital readymades used by game designers; open-source is the trend now. Defining everything as property only leads to more laws and security. Which in turn generate more laws and security as a self-reinforcing mechanism. With finally a minimized freedom, whether expressive or physical. Copyright is history.” (Roberto Voorbij in [Overdose.am](http://Overdose.am) ) Personally I have been practicing the share - economy for the past 2 years in my work. As a webdesigner I have given websites away for 'free' from the idea of abundance. Still under a barter 'agreement' but without a contract, without money etc. Based on the ideal 'I give my talents to you, you give your talents to me'. A barter is just a step towards a society where everything is free, but it's work in progress. So again, my challenge for every creative artist is: before you put something on the web, what are your inner intentions? What do you want to gain? Are you willing to share it with the world and are you able to let go? If you have a commercial purpose, what do you use to monetize and protect your work? What if *copyright discussions* are something of the past? PS the illustration for this post was found with the [Creative Commons search engine] (http://search.creativecommons.org) [login](http://3tags.org/invite/bK0q) or [register](http://3tags.org/invite/bK0q) to leave a comment. ![3tags login](http://s13.postimg.org/ufwir0mqf/3tags_COMMUNITY_MONEY_NETWORK_REGISTER_LOGIN_3t.png)
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Atheist Adam
Atheist Adam ·  
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Upvoted.
Lena's Vegan Living
Excellent article
dobroman46
dobroman46 ·  
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I agree, only put on the internet what you really want to share, interesting post, upvoted.
ConfluenceMedia
thank you dobroman
AsSuch
AsSuch ·  
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(Y) UPvote :-)
ConfluenceMedia
thank you
Christian author Michelle
Upvoted...
ConfluenceMedia
Thank you
KathySmithDavis
Excellent article and this issue has become a big one. Would be easier if people only put on internet what they really only wanted to share but not the reality. Upvoted! :)
ConfluenceMedia
Yes, I think we need to rethink the term 'Sharing'
SocialMediaSwitzerland
Just as IRL it is annoying when somebody steals your ideas and pass them off as their own, there is a small line between promoting someone's work (also paying respect to the author / artist by mentioning them) and the copy / paste we have seen all over the place.
NIAdvocate
NIAdvocate ·  
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Thanks for sharing your views Elza :) Upvoted!
ConfluenceMedia
thank you :)
TickledPink
TickledPink ·  
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upvote, wish some people would lighten up over this. Stealing (making someone's work your own) is a no no, but highlighting and sharing someone's work (for me personally) is an honour, and as you've stated, somewhat of a 'sometimes silent' bartering agreement (y) Thanks, I enjoyed reading it, just gave me some needed clarity ;)
ConfluenceMedia
thank you Carrie
El Creative
El Creative ·  
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Good article. I think lots of photographers already share their images for free on sites like Pixabay etc. I guess the issue is, if an artist works they should get paid just like anyone else. I like your barter idea. I myself often use this method or an energetic exchange of some kind as opposed to money. Money does distort the issue, but it is the currency on which society currently relies. With regard to the whole copyright issue, it does indeed cause problems, and you are right that in some ways the whole copyright laws are like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut. I think perhaps we all have to accept that if we put something 'out there' then it is going to be used. I have not got a problem with that, but I do have an issue with people passing off my work as their own. I think this is where the issue lies (certainly for me). There was another post on this subject about 'free thinking' etc and the flow of information. I think your post gets to the point of the issue.
ConfluenceMedia
Yes when other people pass off your work as their own some line is crossed I think. Now what happens when people use your work to put it on a website and earn money with the views?
El Creative
El Creative ·  
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Good point. On the one hand I guess your content is being shared...but on the other you are not getting the monetary benefit. Having said that, that is exactly what Facebook et al are doing.
ConfluenceMedia
yes, and tsu and 3tags right? I can make money with views here with someone else's stuff...
El Creative
El Creative ·  
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Which can't be right....can it?
ConfluenceMedia
I don't know
vejdet
vejdet ·  
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Upvoted
Spirit84
Spirit84 ·  
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Great
Pam Allen
Pam Allen ·  
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This is a great post. Thanks
DexterRoona
DexterRoona ·  
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very good post upvoted
CommunicationsFuture
useful post, upvoted, shared, saved!