So?

So, you might ask, why does it even matter if legislation or agreements shut down/punish/block video-hosting websites like YouTube or blogs such as LiveJournal? Why is it such a big deal? How could it affect you? Well, to answer broadly, this would limit freedom of speech and stifle creativity that these websites allow. More specifically, these websites have many useful functions that some people may not realize. Any way you look at it, there are numerous benefits gained through these websites that may no longer exist with new stricter copyright protection rules.

Here are a few examples of benefits that stricter copyright laws might prevent:

*Blogs – websites such as this (Blogger, LiveJournal, Wordpress) contribute greatly to free speech. People can discuss virtually any topic; this is especially significant as it provides an opportunity for people to speak their minds . This can play a much-needed role in the lives of people who aren’t able to have their voices heard in other ways (Penrod, 2007, 17). In a Wired article, LiveJournal is even called “the country's last truly free and public space for political debate.” Websites like blogs also encourage literacy (Penrod, 2007, 22-23). Being more literate gives children a better chance to succeed in life (and hopefully give back to society where they can share their opinions about important issues). As UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) puts it, literacy is “a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development.”

*YouTube – video sharing websites such as YouTube also bring helpful benefits. Users often make “Vlogs” (essentially, video blogs) where they share their view on anything from politics to the latest television show. Besides letting users freely express their thoughts, users also illustrate creativity through original videos, and derivative works such as cover songs and fanvids. In David Gauntlett’s book Making is Connecting, he explains why creativity is special and how it brings people together: “Everyday creativity refers to a process which brings together at least one active human mind, and the material or digital world, in the activity of making something which is novel in that process and evokes a feeling of joy" (2007, 76).

These are examples of a few fanvids:

*Fanfiction –– websites such as fanfiction.net grant users the power of creativity through writing fiction. As it sounds, “fanfiction” is fiction written by fans of various books/television shows/movies/comics that is based on said entertainment. These stories may be very similar to the show (an alternate ending to a scene), or almost completely different (an alternate universe story where the characters are put in a totally different environment). By coming up with countless different scenarios and imagining how the characters would act in those situations, fans are able to express creativity (and practice writing as well).

By trying to catch the ne’er-do-wells that pirate a vast amount of material, innocent individuals trying to speak their mind or embrace creativity through “fair use” may be squashed as result. So, the hardcore pirates keep doing what they have been doing, but now, the average person’s Internet freedom has been stifled – not even in exchange, but instead.

References
Gauntlett, D. (2011). Making is Connecting. Malden, MA: Polity Press.
Penrod, D. (2007). Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & 
     Littlefield Education