Restrictions on creativity?

FOUR R'S IN RELATION TO ANIMATION

Blog one: Copyright

Copyright to me has always been something we are taught about from a young age, you can look at a persons work for inspiration but can not copy it. For me i found this concept odd, as my grandparents would often encourage me as an artist to look at a work of art and do just that. Copy what i see and try to understand it, identify what works and what doesn't. To then absorb the information and try to see what i can make my own. my favourite quote to reflect on is from Pablo Picasso (Farago, 2018)

"Good artists copy, Great artists steal."

The quote itself raises issues of controversy. As stealing is wrong and immoral, and goes against this later notion of copyright. Which was instated in order to protect a creative individuals intellectual and physical work, for a period of time. (70 years even after the creators death) But this i think is where the word "steal" has been misinterpreted for the act of theft rather than in an art term of steal, which would be interpreting what is seen and making the idea your own.

Those who copy another's work will be quick to be called out and even disrespected, because we believe that the person is lacking in their own creativity, despite the piece being well designed and crafted. Though, in a modern era however; all artists will contribute to this "stealing" in order to make their living, by altering parts of another artists work, which is what is linked to the notion - good artists copy. (Vairavan, 2018) However, what is unique about this is the way in which each individual sees a preexisting idea, and then mixes, mashes and reshapes it. to turn the old idea into something new and special. When done correctly the result is always fascinating and unless you where told of the inspiration one would not normally be able to identify it.

So, now that we read all that ramble, why does it matter?

And how exactly does it relate to copyright?

Well, in efforts to set up that my understanding of what artists and all creators go through during a 'production' phase. i can now begin to reflect further on what copyright does protect and actions such as infringements that can be carried out if someone tries to outright steal your work rather than the above explanation of reshaping and changing the inspirational idea to become something of your own.

In my own industry of choice, animation. I am beginning to see how heavily i need to be aware of copy right once i'm outside of the security and flexibility that my standing as a student currently gives me. As students have a exemption in copyright, however. "There are rules about how much of a text or artistic work a School/TAFE can copy

and how it can be communicated. These rules vary depending on whether the source material is in hard copy or electronic form." To use up to 10% of a persons work given that the original is credited, its only created for learning purposes and created with the indented purposes of being for zero profit. ("1.13 Copyright exceptions", 2018)

Another exemption to copyright is if the work is being used to criticise, or being remade into a parody. "writing, music and art that intentionally copies the style of someone famous or copies a particular situation, making the feature or qualities of the original more noticeable in a way that is humorous." (Dictionary, 2018)

As for a real life example of a business who implements copyright into their business structure and ensures their distribution of other peoples content is successful is Steam. Steam is a platform that gives people access to purchase games. why bother mentioning this? well this is one of the most effective websites in selling games In an environment where people have the convenience of these programs just negate the pirating. As the prices on steam are acceptable and easier to access.

Challenges that will face me within the industry whilst creating is the way that media is being shared among the internet and on multiple platforms. So the influences that i will be exposed to has increased, and thus, the potential of a copyright infringement if the idea has not been changed and morphed enough.

This will change if your being brought in on another's project, you may be subjected to signing a contract; where it can either be written or verbal, which negates any copyright claim the individual will have to that piece of work they are working on. So for example, a game that has a collaboration between technical artists, environmental modellers, lighting and texture artists, testers, character modellers and then the animation team. each of the work that they contribute to that game no longer belongs to them, but instead to the game. so that the owner or shareholder of the game is the one with the rights to redistribute, commercialise, etc. (Jobsite Worklife, 2018)

Overall, what I've learnt from my critical thinking classes about copyright is; Don't be afraid to share you ideas and work with others. Collaboration is a great way to develop your skills, increase your working relationships and build positive connections to others in your industry.

Thank you for reading!

Bibliography

Vairavan, A. (2018). What did Picasso mean when he said “good artists copy, great artists steal”? Did he really say this or did someone else say it? [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-did-Picasso-mean-when-he-said-%E2%80%9Cgood-artists-copy-great-artists-steal%E2%80%9D-Did-he-really-say-this-or-did-someone-else-say-it

Farago, J. (2018). ‘Good artists copy, great artists steal’. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141112-great-artists-steal

The Artists Guide to Copyright and IP. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJmv8v-QI7w

What Type of Roles are there in the Gaming Industry? | Jobsite Worklife. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.jobsite.co.uk/worklife/type-roles-gaming-industry-12239/

1.13 Copyright exceptions. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/copyright-guidelines/copyright---a-general-overview/1-13-copyright-exceptions

Dictionary, p. (2018). parody Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/parody