While issues of copyright and ownership are not fully resolved in the ever-changing landscape of evolving Internet and mobile-application portal technology, there is cause for great concern when, from what I’ve been able to gather, it seems like corporations are trying to turn the real problem of on-line piracy into an excuse to gain greater control of content, and over the average user of the Internet. From what I’ve gathered, most of the piracy is due to some overseas “cartels,” anyway. Most of the video uploads that I’ve seen on YouTube include the disclaimer that the uploader is not claiming copyright to the material. I have discovered artists and material of which I might not otherwise have become aware because of sites like YouTube. My modest YouTube channel includes over 400 views of my spoken rendition of Robert Frost’s “Acquainted With The Night.” Maybe these viewers will go on to discover more of Frost’s poetry, as well as the other poets I’ve included. I expect no monetary profit – forgive me the pride of stating that the profit comes from trying to spread the light of poetry and literature to others. Aside from that, I just like doing it.
I am prepared to walk away from the Internet. Such would be like a grievous smite to the nose, since the Internet makes a good deal of things convenient, and it is my main source of entertainment. I got along just fine before the Internet. I imagine I can do so again. (Oh, the horror!)
Please continue to make use of existing law to combat piracy and infringement, or use more carefully crafted legislation (read: legislation that is meant to provide true justice, and not power to corporations) in order to combat the true sources of piracy – a task probably better suited, as has been suggested elsewhere, to law enforcement itself.
Thank you for your consideration,
Brian Esposito
