Chapter 12
Issues and Trends in
Multimedia
Copyright issues
Copyright laws are a set of legal rules and regulations
• that govern the protection of creative works
• provide profit from hard work
They grant the following exclusive rights to the creator
• The right to reproduce the work
• The right to create derivative works
• The right to distribute copies of the work
• The right to perform the work publicly
• The right to display the work publicly
Copyright issues
Copyright laws limit the amount of work used without permission
or payment
The duration of copyright protection varies on: type of work &
jurisdiction
• It lasts for the life of the creator plus a certain number of years after their death.
There are also exceptions and limitations to copyright
• fair use: allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for
certain purposes
Copyright issues
The use of copyright encourage creativity
The ease with which material can be copied/manipulated, etc, has
raised concerns about the appropriateness of applying copyright laws
• Difficulty in determining originality:
• Ex., a multimedia work may include elements of music, video, and text that have
been sourced from different creators
• making it challenging to determine who owns the copyright for each component.
• Fair use: -is not always clear in the context of multimedia,
• difficult to determine when the use of copyrighted material is allowed without
permission or payment.
Copyright issues
The ease with which material can be copied/manipulated,
etc, has raised concerns about the appropriateness of
applying copyright laws
• Technological advancements: easier to create and distribute multimedia
content
• as such it is more difficult to enforce copyright laws.
• anyone can create & share multimedia online without proper
attribution or payment
• International copyright laws: differ across countries,
• creating challenges to enforcing copyright in the multimedia industry.
• the global nature of multimedia - difficult to determine which country's
laws should apply to a particular piece of content.
Copyright issues
The ease with which material can be copied/manipulated,
etc, has raised concerns about the appropriateness of
applying copyright laws
• Remix culture: where creators mix and remix existing content to create
new works
• this is a growing trend
• a challenge - as it is difficult to determine which elements of the
content are original and which are borrowed.
• User-generated content: an increase on social media and other platforms
• It is challenging to monitor and enforce copyright laws
• issues with unauthorized use of copyrighted material
• legal battles over who owns the rights to user-generated content
Copyright issues
A series of changes can be made
• when various materials are digitized
Several ways to obtain multimedia content:
• Securing the rights to copyrighted material
• using non-copyrighted materials
• or materials for public use
• creating in-house materials
• contracting for original material
The protection of copyrighted
material
Buying an multimedia application (CD/web) does not
authorize you to copy images or clips
• No rights other than personal use are granted
Multimedia developer must determine which rights
are required
• Purchasing the right to use a clip does not give you the right to
use:
• its music or a single character
• the clip both on a CD or Internet.
• both of this require different licenses
The protection of copyrighted
material
Developer identifies who can grant the rights
• once they have been determined
• In the music industry, a composer holds the copyright,
• usually administered by the music publisher
• Sometimes it is necessary to find the individual who holds the copyright &
negotiate
• this process can be lengthy and expensive
Companies and government agencies are involved in offering stock
footage - film & videos
• Some companies specialize in specific content
• Stock footage companies would work with the developer to find appropriate clips
The protection of copyrighted
material
Rights guarantee the use of the material for a
specific project and for a certain length of time
• usually 4-10 years
• Extra requirements cost extra money
Multimedia industry uses a relatively small amount
of film and video
• companies have noticed that multimeida developers may
involve larger consumers for their services
• they are willing to negotiate with developers in different ways to
benefit from their services
The use of materials in public
domain
Materials with no copyright are for public use
• can be used without permission or payment
Materials that do not have copyright
• if copyright has not been issued
• Ex., various materials of a state nature
• has expired
• up to 75 – 95 years after publishing
• has not been renewed
The use of materials in public
domain
There are some legal issues to take into
consideration, when we use materials for
public use:
• Derivative work
• Trademark
• People
The use of materials in public
domain
Derivative work- are based on an original work
• translations, adaptations, dramatizations, summaries
Trademark - a name, symbol, or other device that identifies a
product and is officially registered
• its use is legally limited by the owner
• its protection covers the title of a published work
• in case of defamation, the name of the characters
Individual data includes what is known as the right to publicity
• a legal basis - seek permission & payment for using a person's name, image, etc
Privacy Issues
Privacy issues arise:
1 - when personal or sensitive information is captured
and shared without consent or inappropriately
• Including photos, videos, audio recording, and other form of media
2 - when metadata associated with multimedia
content, such as location data, is used to track
individuals' movements or behavior
• Ex. Social media platforms - source of privacy issues
• collect & use data in ways that invade users' privacy
Privacy Issues
Photos & videos
• taking photos or videos of other people
• you may capture personal information - facial features or
sensitive activities
• If these images are shared without consent or inappropriately,
they can invade the privacy of the individuals in the image
Audio recording
• can contain sensitive information - conversations, personal details,
or confidential business information.
• If these recordings are shared without permission or
inappropriately, they can violate the privacy of the people involved
Privacy Issues
Location data
• Multimedia materials can contain metadata
• including location data - give away information where the media
was captured.
• This data can be used to track individuals' movements, which can
invade their privacy
Social media
• allow users to share multimedia materials
• but they may collect & use the data associated with these materials
• Ex., they may use facial recognition to identify individuals in photos,
which can be concerning for those who value their privacy
Privacy Issues
Important privacy issue - disclosure of embarrassing facts
• Embarrassing facts are personal information
• they cause humiliation, shame, or emotional distress if disclosed
publicly
• e.x., disclosure of heath abuse by a VIP
• To avoid violating privacy laws
• developers consider - the information they are sharing could be
considered an embarrassing fact?
• E.x., a promotion video for a fitness program should not disclose
the weight or body measurements of the people featured in the
video
• unless they have their consent
Privacy Issues
Important privacy issue - placing a person in a dim light
It can lead to negative consequences for the individual, including:
• Emotional distress - especially if they did not consent to the use of their
image or personal information.
• Reputational harm - it can harm their reputation and damage their personal
or professional relationships.
• Legal action - individuals may choose to pursue legal action.
• This lead to costly legal battles and reputational damage for both parties.
• Loss of trust: they may lose trust in the developer and be less likely to engage
with their content in the future
Censorship Issues
It refers to the act of suppressing or restricting access to information, opinions, or
artistic expressions that are deemed inappropriate, offensive, or harmful by
individuals or institutions in positions of authority
• This can be done by:
• Governments
• Media outlets
• Schools
• Any other organization or individual that has the power to control the dissemination of information
Censorship can take many forms
• Removal of books, movies, or music from circulation
• Blocking of websites or social media platforms
• Suppression of news stories or journalistic investigations
• Restriction of certain types of speech or expression in public spaces.
Censorship Issues
The practice of censorship is often controversial
• It can be seen as a violation of freedom of speech
• Supporters argue that it is necessary to protect the public from harmful or
offensive content
• Opponents argue that it stifles creativity and inhibits free thought and
debate.
Controversies over the content do not differ from other media
• as in TV, movies, or music
• violence, racism, & pornography are a big concern
• especially in titles that directly target children
Censorship Issues
Should censorship be applied to multimedia titles?
• It is a matter of balancing competing interests, such as:
• freedom of expression
• the protection of individuals from harm
• the promotion of cultural values.
• Different societies and cultures may have different approaches to this
question
• the appropriate level of censorship may depend on factors such as:
• age
• cultural background
• individual preferences.
Censorship Issues
Who will control the content, multimedia
industry or government ?
• Government control can take many forms, including:
• laws, regulations, and guidelines that restrict the
creation, distribution, or consumption of certain types
of content.
• This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as:
• protecting public morals or national security
• preventing the spread of harmful or offensive ideas
Censorship Issues
Who will control the content, multimedia
industry or government ?
• Multimedia Industry - involves the creation of
voluntary guidelines or codes of conduct that are
adopted by industry players.
• These guidelines may be designed to address
concerns around content like:
• violence, sexually explicit, or offensive in some
other way.
THANK YOU