Digital media are forms of media content that combine and integrate data, text, sound, and images of all kinds, are stored in digital formats, and are increasingly distributed through the digital, networked environment (Flew, 2004, p. 96). Given (1998) says the desire to develop digital media arises in part from the capacity to deliver higher quality media, as well as a greater range and diversity to formats, on basis of digitisation, convergence, and networking.
However digital media’s rapid technological progress poses issues for copyright law. Computing equipment has become more pervasive and the means of reproducing and distributing copyrighted materials in digital form becomes more powerful and accessible (Congressional Budget Office, 2004).For example greater computer processing power and storage capacity, as well as the proliferation of file sharing on peer-to-peer networks, have facilitated the unauthorised use of creative works. This means that there are more cases of copyright infringement, because the digitization of creative content is lowering the cost of copyright infringement by individual consumers. As a consequence, private individuals, rather than commercial entities, are increasingly the target of copyright-enforcement efforts (Congressional Budget Office, 2004).
This technological progress of digital media is placing growing strains on whatever balance had previously been achieved between the rights of copyright owners and the interests of consumers. Copyright owners, concerned about losing control over their works in digital form, fear that their economic returns will be reduced (Congressional Budget Office, 2004). A specific example of such concerns is in the music industry, with the Recording Industry Association of America.
Therefore there have been many legislative and judicial attempts to retool copyright law for digital media. These new copyright modifications for digital media have attempted to balance the right of the copyright owners with the interests of consumer (Congressional Budget Office, 2004). One such legislation is the digital millennium copyright act (DMCA). The DMCA modified the details of copyright law in a variety of ways, including instituting a royalty-setting process for Internet music broadcasts and specifying exemptions for library and archival copying (Congressional Budget Office, 2004). Holland (2002, p.8) says the DMCA would require manufacturers and content companies, along with consumer groups to forge and agree on standards and coding. The technologies would then be incorporated into all digital media devices to ensure universal access to such content for consumers.
Overall new digital media technologies are challenging the existing copyright laws (Congressional Budget Office, 2004). As technological advancement is outpacing existing digital copyright legislation actions needs to be done to redesign existing laws for digital media.
References
Congressional Budget Office (2004) “Copyright Law and Technological Change,� retrieved September 20, 2004, from http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5738&sequence=3
Flew, T. (2004) New Media: An Introduction, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Given, J. (1998) The Death of Broadcasting? Media’s Digital Future, Sydney: UNSW Press.
Holland, B. (2002) “Law aims to stop Internet Copying,� Billboard, vol.114, iss.14, pp.8.
Julie Bui 15:18, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
