The Past, Present, and Future of Ownership
Friday, December 27, 2013
A special hour, originally aired in March, on our changing understanding of ownership and how it is affected by the law. An author and professor who encourages creative writing through plagiarism, 3D printing, fan fiction & fair use, and the strange tale of who owns "The Happy Birthday Song."
The Current State of Ownership
Brooke examines the current arguments over ownership and intellectual property with the help of a chair that collapses after just eight uses.
Meet the New Boss, Worse Than the Old Boss
David Lowery of bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven thought the internet would become a vibrant new marketplace for creators. Instead, he says, the internet era is worse for artists than the infamously unfair record company system.
Happy Birthday
"Happy Birthday to You" is one of the most popular songs in the English language. It is also copyrighted. On the Media producer PJ Vogt investigates the long, surprising, and contentious history of the argument over just who owns the rights to the song.
Fan Fiction and the Law
The internet has supercharged the world of fan fiction - stories written by fans based on their favorite works. Bob talks to Rebecca Tushnet, head of the legal committee at the Organization for Transformative Works, about the collision of fan fiction and fair use.
3D Printing
Desktop 3D printing has the potential to change our understanding of the 'ownership' of objects. Rather than buying many of the things we get at stores, 3D printing will allow you to make them at home. Bob talks with Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics and author of Makers: The New Industrial Revolution, who says the potential of this burgeoning technology is enormous.
Don't Screw It Up
Following up on his conversation with Chris Anderson, Bob speaks with Michael Weinberg, Vice President at Public Knowledge, who's working to explain the benefits of 3D printing to legislators before regulation takes hold.
Plagiarism: Maybe It's Not So Bad
Artists often draw inspiration from other sources - from musicians sampling songs to painters recreating existing masterpieces. Kenneth Goldsmith, MoMA’s new Poet Laureate, believes writers should catch-up with other mediums and embrace plagiarism in their work.