By: Kai Payne

cop·y·right, noun

The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

Copyrights are something students learn about when they write their first paper, do not plagiarize someone else’s work and always credit it. We see it at the bottom of websites CC or Creative Commons, we see them as tiny letters next to company names TM or Trademark(ed), or the Patent number on the front of your can of Pringles. These all exist for the same reason, to protect the creators or authors original work so it isn’t stolen by others. . . or does it?

The US Copyright Claims Board (CCB) has reported over 1000 small cases have been filed since the creation of the organization in June of 2022, and 989 cases have been filed since October 2022. Since 2024 there is been dozen of high profile copyright claims (those who have made it into mainstream media) over 75% of which revolving around AI model training. These claims are usually a result in some type of infringement of rights or unauthorized use of material, but some of these claims seem to be, interesting like accidentals infringements or minute and minor cases. Out of the 1000 cases it is estimated that about 100 cases are accidentals infringements that were not intended like accidentally mentioning the name or using material without credit as it wasn’t deemed to be required.

So that brings up the question. What counts as a valid product to copyright? Does copyrighting even protect creativity or is it a way to privatize self expression? We brought up the following questions to some IA students and staff, to see their opinions on Copyright and expression

1. How do you think most authors use copyright? 2. Do you believe you’ve violated a copyright license before? 3. Have you ever submitted a copyright claim before? 4. How much expression do you think the public has with copyrighted material? 5. Do you believe copyright should be more limited in what can be copyrighted, if so why?

The most interesting thing about these questions is most IA students and even some staff have violated a copyright claim before, as downloading music form unauthorized sites is an infringement, copying and pasting anything from a website is also an infringement, using images from the internet is also an infringement. Meaning material you download to study with and share with your friends to also study with, could be a copyright case!

Here’s what Ms. Matthews had to say in response when we asked her the stated questions

“Most authors use copyright most likely to protect their work, second I think, its most likely the primary way or use it in a way to pass off your work as their own, or protect it further by outlining how it can be used. Its a first line defense to keep people from infringing on their work and they can control how their work is used like in licensing agreements, and that first line of defense is if an infringement occurs you can point to that copyright agreement, it also can come into play, and I think this played our recently in the Hollywood circle where, if you have the idea for something, and you assert a copyright in time you can kind of say ‘well I had this idea first’. No I have not submitted a copy right claim before. I don’t think its likely I’ve violated a copyright license before, in the case I did make copies of something it was for educational use, actually scratch that I grew up in the age of line wire, so yes, I have most likely. Well you’re limited by only the copyright, and as long as you respect it there’s no grey area with it, most people if the need is great enough they will use it until they get stopped or punished. Like music artist who use samples from other sources do it all the time. I don’t this there needs to be limits on what can be copyrighted currently, as it can bring a chilling affect as some people who may need copyright someone it may make it more difficult or harder to actually acquire that copyright, I do realize the laws have to evolve with the time, but currently I think copyrights have done their job efficiently, and keep in mind people who want to break the rule will break the rule.”

Donna Matthews, English Department Educator