Changing copyright laws to stop infringement is like changing murder laws to stop homicides. The root of both issues is cultural. But sure, why not? Let’s change, update, remix, and mash-up copyright laws to reflect the times.
Let’s remix, mash-up copyright laws to reflect the times. There's a dark history of copyright infringement and theft from black musicians.
And while we’re at it, copyright laws aren’t the only laws that need an update: There are still lots of places in the U.S., not just Ferguson, where being black is damn near against the law.
But back to copyright.
A much-needed change in copyright laws will certainly usher in a ton of new cases. Cases even more egregious and blatant than “Blurred Lines.” Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) reminds us in his song “Rock N Roll”:
You may dig on the Rolling Stones But they ain't come up with that ... on they own
He was speaking about the dark history of copyright infringement, and often downright theft, from black musicians. The Rolling Stones biographer Stanley Booth described their music as “the songs of old black men too poor to put glass in their windows.”
There are clearer cases of copyright infringement like “Blurred Lines,” but ironically, the lines are often blurry. Especially when you consider that there are only twelve musical tones in Western music.
This isn’t about updating copyright laws, it’s about updating our culture, and returning to a culture of innovation and originality.
Sylvia Robinson, the pioneering musician, business woman, and visionary producer often regarded as the "mother of hip-hop," gave us beautiful instructions: "Dont "copy things that are out there... come up with something new, something different."
