Let the 2nd annual CC swag photo contest begin! - Creative Commons
At Aggregate Culture, we not only watch and report on the
many meme's floating, streaming, and generally gaining momentum in the big blog-o-sphere in the pipe, but we also put our money where the proverbial 2.0 mouth is, and get involved. So when one of the most amazing organizations to come around in the last 15 years sponsor’s a photo contest, you know the AC will be there.
Perhaps the best part of the ongoing second web renaissance is how much of it
is based on collaboration, and how much of the basis of that collaboration involves the sharing and manipulation of existing content, in order to create entirely new content. As you all know very well, there are some, unfortunately, pretty evil empires out there trying to make it difficult to use existing works of arts that are in the public domain. It’s not only getting difficult, but with the momentum that the current legislative landscape has gained in the last seven years, that it's almost virtually impossible to use any existing material in the public domain at all. Combine that scenario with the media
consolidation currently happening, and we are literally talking about the end of being able to use anything at all without paying some exorbitant fee.
These empires want to go so far as to take our rights to fair use entirely away for so long, that we are looking at a couple of generations from now before we are able to use anything currently copyrighted. Taking away our right to use public domain works will not only make for a poorer culture overall, but we could even possibly stifle the next Disney or Public Enemy. I know...I know, I can hear the collective gasps out there, and the cries of disbelief, but it's true, don't take my word for it, go out there and research it, or better yet, read Lawrence Lessig's "The Future of Ideas," and get angry.
So when one of the few organizations out there fighting for fair and updated
copyright laws that are suitable for this century, and not the 19th,
calls for entries, the AC army will respond, and nothing makes it easier or
more fun getting involved in a fantastic organization - than a photo contest.
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