This was a big hot month for the intellectual property issue. First of a 3 part series this week.
Earlier this month Steve Jobs made big news with his proposal that there be no copyright protection software for music. That is, anyone can download anything for free. Of course, Jobs did not think this up on his own. The kids are forcing the music industry to this. Apparently, illegal free downloads are up more than ever. And record company sales are down more than ever. Big problem. Keep in mind the Gen Y economy is driving this issue, not courts, not outdated laws, not big industry executives.
Also, in a step-backwards that resolves nothing, Google cannot link to newspaper articles in Europe according to a Brussels Court.
And most fascinatingly, Google is now in the process of putting on the web EVERY book EVER written, some 32 million books. They are doing this with the cooperation of some major publishers, who want Google to link to their books so people will buy them. But now those very same publishers that are working with Google, are also suing Google over copyright and intellectual property infringement.
Confused? You better be. If you are not confused, you don't under the intellectual property issue at all!
Holy Plagerism Batman
A concern is the availability of so much information on the internet. Students are enabled to do irresponsible research by cutting and pasting, "oops forgot to give crddit to author" "Oh well I could have said that." How much fact is being brought from the internet. It is great to be able to do research but one must take the responsibility of authentic research not opinion stated as fact and then copying it. Wish I had the answer? "Hey let me check the Internet.
Posted by: David J. Reilly | March 15, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Gen Y wields a lot of power. Yet, it's been my experience as an adjunct professor that most of these young people don't realize how much power their generation has. Imagine how much they will be able to do once they become aware of their ability to change the world! As a Gen Xer, I literally can't imagine what they will come up with - I just hope I remain open to the change.
Posted by: Suzanne | February 27, 2007 at 06:39 PM