Misrepresenting The Commons - Conversation from POP and Policy

More from POp MOntreal 2007, on the POP and POlicy Conference.

Some people, when I’ve mentioned we’ve been covering this, have been surprised to hear there’s a POP-related conference going on. Others were surprised to find out that all the panels on the last day would be free, because maaaybe they wouldn’t have paid 50$ for their pass in that case… But anyway. There have been cool ideas presented and interesting fights and amazing people to meet in the audience and as they leave the stage. What became most clear was that music is connected to our bones and fears and passions, and we’re at a crossroads in how music is part of our lives because of the changes wrought by digital media, and there are a lot of misunderstandings floating around.

During our post panel conversation with Geoff Agombar, Pop and Policy organizer, and the panelists and a few others, a McGill law student (love these kids) asked Abramovitch (whom I mentioned here) what she thought of Creative Commons. Creative Commons licensing would, it seems resolve the issue that was brought up of wanting to share your music, but not necessarily wanting it to appear in a commercial. CC Non-Commercial would seem to suit you there. Her answer was pretty hilarious. She instantly said the word NO, and continued to shake her head angrily while telling us that if people were really informed when they signed away these irrevocable rights then she would support it, but she claimed that the creative commons licenses urge people not to seek legal council and (intentionally it was implied) cloud the issue. She also called them “these people” more then once.

Me and the law student laughed as Abramovitch then stated what was pretty obvious- she hadn’t actually been on the Creative Commons site or read any of the licenses herself or done the ‘getting informed’ she so wished others would do before deciding. We quickly informed her that no, the licenses are not irrevocable, you can relicense your work at any time and the new license will apply to everyone who encounters it subsequent to the change. And no, the Creative Commons, founded by Standford Law Prof Lawrence Lessig does not urge people not to seek legal council. But instead only makes clear that they cannot give you legal council, and that it is perfectly legal and always has been to create a contract own your own. Aaayway - lots of hypocrisies, misinformation and fear floating around on these complex issues, and a lot of people whose livelihoods are tied to the current state of affairs. Fair enough.

We just need to remember, I think, that our systems are having after-affects all over the world. Our perspectives on this question of what we own and how we control it needs to widen beyond the middle class, first world bias we have had for a long time. A bias we have inherited in part because of our highly centralized media and lack of access to information, and in part because our status gives us some power, and power in itself can bring distortion to our desires and sight. In reality questions of copyright play out in small towns in America where an individual who makes under 10 grand a year gets fined 220 000$ for illegally sharing, but also in places that can’t get copywritten medicines despite the fact that 80% of the population is infected, on farms being planted with copywritten genetically modified crops, or in countless places subject in countless ways to decisions made by companies who have broader access to disseminate their version of reality then individuals do.

But this is changing.

Slowly, the people’s reach is becoming truly global. As Patti Smith and Pearlman pointed out, we have choice, and we have more power to connect our own dots and refuse the dominant stories then we ever have before. We need to active this principle in ourselves and our media to push our big ole systems toward positive change.

On our end, well, we’ll continue to try and unite artists here on Indyish to amplify our communicative power without muddling in their rights. We’ll just keep doing our best, alright? And as artists we’ll keep being loud about what we believe and refusing to sign deals that limit our freedoms or that give ethics we disagree with more ammunition. Holla. Now. Off to Puces POP.