New Copy This Podcast: “Article 13 Is A Clear Descendant Of SOPA/PIPA.” The 15th episode of the Copy This podcast takes up the public fight against the European Union Copyright Directive and its controversial Article 13 content filtering proposal with copyright policy advisor Paul Keller. The podcast helps explain why the copyright directive is one of the biggest and riskiest pieces of legislation in the 21st century and why its sheer scale should give everyone – in the EU and here in the U.S. – pause.
It’s A Wonderful Public Domain. In anticipation of the hundreds of thousands of works that will enter the public domain on New Year’s Day for the first time in decades, Re:Create Executive Director Joshua Lamel posted a blog to Medium celebrating the importance of the public domain. “Anyone who enjoys art, film, books, movies and has a general appreciation of culture should mark this New Year’s Day milestone…It means the public will finally be able to build upon works like Charlie Chaplin’s The Pilgrim, Felix the Cat, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, poems by Robert Frost and William Carlos Williams’ The Great American Novel,” wrote Lamel.
What Exactly Is The Register Of Copyrights Bill Trying To Fix? A comprehensive story in the Library Journal on the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (S. 1010) detailed why the library community opposes the bill to transfer authority over the United States Copyright Office from the Library of Congress to the president. The story also highlighted the progress that has been made under Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden. According to Brandon Butler, director of information policy at the University of Virginia Library, the Office has functioned as well as it ever has under Dr. Hayden’s leadership. “Recent reports and rulemakings have been some of the most efficient and constructive in the Office’s history. Two years later it seems clear nothing is broken, so what is this bill trying to fix?” questioned Butler.
Understanding Autism: Fan Fiction Authors Create Their Own Characters In Harry Potter Universe. One in 59 children is diagnosed with autism, but few autistic characters are featured in popular books, movies and television shows. Instead of waiting for mainstream media to create these characters, many fan fiction authors are simply writing their own, explored The Conversation. The Harry Potter universe has been particularly popular for fan fiction authors to “promote an understanding of autism as something that isn’t scary or horrific.” The magical world of Harry Potter is conducive to portraying autism as “a kind of ‘magic’ ability” or merely a “difference.”
Instagram Beta Tests “Creator Accounts.” Instagram is testing “creator accounts” to give influencers tools to grow and measure their following along with new direct messaging capabilities. “We want to make sure that Instagram is the best place, and the easiest place, to build fan communities and also build [creators’] personal brands,” a product manager told The Hollywood Reporter. The enhanced ability to measure weekly and daily follower data will help new creators on Instagram better track the kind of content followers want to see.