23 May 2001
Stop Thief!
On top of everything else lately, it seems some sorry SOB stole Randy(BWG)'s web design in its entirety. This was pointed out by a website -- new to me -- entitled Stop Thief, which mission is "to expose intellectual property theft, including images, layouts, and other copyrighted materials, on the world wide web." I like the notion of a self-policing web, and thus I respect this endeavor, broadly speaking, although they seem awfully zealous.
The zealous tone led me to wonder how many of the people who either work on the site or who have had their own intellectual property "ripped off" have been as zealous and shrill in their pursuit of people who rip off that piece of intellectual property known as music via napster? Probably not the BWG, who (not to hit him when he's down, because as Callie pointed out to me, I doubt he's even made the connection) was more than happy to let "Kaycee" post mp3s on his domain via "her" journal. Of course, raising such a point would have no doubt seemed crass and heartless, since "Kaycee" was (allegedly) dying of cancer. And I don't know if Stop Thief bothers itself with such "trivial" concerns.
But still.... I'm a little amazed at how zealously people protect intellectual property WHEN IT IS THEIR OWN (or in their own MEDIUM) and what callous disregard there is for the issue when it is "just music." Never mind that your favorite neighborhood band might look at YOUR graphics, or YOUR html, in just the same way -- an internet commodity to be shared for the greater good!
* * * *
I have been sick with a nasty chest thing every day since reaching the grand old age of 31. I'm hopeful the Zithromax will knock it out soon. This getting old business sucks.
[Posted @ 02:08 PM CST]
COMMENTS
Hm ... very interesting point.
Wouldn't the true parallel to stealing web site content be someone taking a song someone else wrote and passing it off as theirs, wouldn't it? Most people don't mind being used on other sites as long as they're credited for it, unless it was a painstaking design that was stolen.
Doesn't excuse stealing artists' work on Napster, though. :)
[Posted by Evelynne on 23 May 2001, 08:42 PM CST]
i had someone use an image i made that was a part of my site (the "eye" thing) and use it as a button to promote their own site. funny thing is though, that if they asked, i would have let them. but they not only used my image, but an image of a friend of mine. not just a graphic, but HER FACE.
i didn't even do anything about it. some of my regular posters got on their asses and they took it down.
but i totally agree with you. i've never downloaded from napster, because i thought it was wrong. or was it because i was just too lazy even though i have dsl? hrm... i forget.
did i have a point?
hope you feel better soon!
[Posted by jonelin on 24 May 2001, 01:13 PM CST]
