Digital photos, video cameras, the Internet and software have made it easier than ever for people to express their creativity in new ways. Whether we just have a family web site or if we are professional artists, copyright law can be crucial for protecting our creative work — or preventing it. Fortunately, there are fun and creative ways for artists to support smarter copyright law.
- Create music that should be legal: After a court found that three sampled (and modified) notes are a copyright violation, Downhill Battle is inviting all digital musicians to show how they can create new art with an "outlawed" sample.
- Fight unfair copyright claims: If your noncommercial, educational or activist web site has received a "Cease and Desist" letter from a copyright or trademark holder the Chilling Effects web site can help. Created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation in partnership with several legal clinics, you can add your letter to the database and search for existing letters.
- Use the alternative to copyright: Creative Commons offers a new license for digital content that offers more options to protect artists, diverse culture, creative collaboration and the public domain.
- Join a coalition of musicians and citizens: The Future of Music Coalition works in Washington, D.C. to represent the rights of musicians and music fans. Get involved with their concerts and conferences and sign their manifesto to promote regulations that support diverse, independent music and fair economics for artists.
