The Dilemma Of Image Copyright. Visual China Group. Media Essay

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
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Image Copyright
Introduction
Production and distribution of images are now cheaper because copyright holders are providing digital copies of their works on web platforms where they can be easily accessed by their customers (Perzanowski and Schultz 2011, p. 2068). It is currently possible for an artist to produce their products such as images and sell several copies within a few days, a feat that could not be achieved few years ago. It is easy for individuals to copy and share images through the Internet (Weiskopf 1998, p. 4). However, cases of infringement of image copyright are increasingly becoming an issue with the development of new technologies in a big data environment. Such technologies are enabling reproduction and distribution of digital copies by unauthorised people with the aim of making illegal profits. At the same time, such individuals are able to protect themselves from legal actions by operating without revealing their identity (Perzanowski and Schultz 2011, p. 2068). These internet characteristics along with culture of sharing content freely and lack of awareness by common users of the legal repercussions of their activities have resulted in increased cases of digital piracy at levels that have had negative impacts on the revenues in the copyrighted industries. This has sometimes raised a question of whether traditional copyright doctrines are effective in protecting copyrighted works. Piracy levels have increased worldwide for image artworks, which has severely affected copyrighted works such as televisions, photographic works, films, and books, among others (Beams 1998, p. 823). Individuals participating in piracy source images from internet; thus, use of big data has created an enabling environment for image pirating. Huge volumes of data have made it difficult for authorities to capture the violators of copyright laws. Big data has introduced a huge dilemma in image copyright because images can be shared through various technologies, raising the question whether reproduction of such images through various digital media amounts to infringement of copyright laws or not (Beams 1998, p. 823). Also, there is a contradiction between paid use and free transmission of works. This paper will analyse and focus on the dilemma and protection of image copyright in the era of big data. The paper takes the Visual China Group event as an example to analyse image copyright protection.
The Dilemma of Image Copyright
Since it costs less money and time to make a copy of a particular work, the copyright protection faces a massive challenge. It is much easier to manipulate and reproduce images in the big data environment because it is easy to combine and process information as opposed to traditional forms piracy (Strickland 2003, p. 9). Authors, publishers, and providers of multimedia data are reluctant to distribute their works through the Internet. Distribution of images via the internet creates loopholes that could lead to copying and reproduction of the images, which affect the profitability of the legitimate producer. Generally, photographs, pictures, illustrations, and other images are protected by cop...