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What challenges do emerging technologies pose to copyright holders?

Karyme Yarrall

As a user of social media, I believe that emerging technologies pose various challenges to copyright holders. With the rise of digital platforms, individuals and companies can easily access and distribute content without proper permission, causing a loss of control over the usage of copyrighted material.

One of the primary challenges that emerging technologies present to copyright holders is piracy. With the internet, it has become easier to share copyrighted content illegally, which harms artists, authors, musicians, and other content creators whose livelihoods rely on the sale of their works. Piracy has become an even more significant challenge with the arrival of peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks, which allow users to share large files over the internet.

Another challenge posed by emerging technologies is the ease with which users can create and share derivative works based on copyrighted material. Social media platforms allow users to create mashups, parodies, and content that incorporate copyrighted content without proper authorization. While some of these derivative works are produced for non-commercial purposes or in the name of artistic expression, others are used for commercial gain, which may infringe on copyright.

Furthermore, the speed and availability of digital channels, combined with the low cost of distribution, make unauthorized online use of copyrighted works even more challenging to detect and prevent. It means that copyright holders have to deal with a higher volume of infringement cases and cannot easily track down the unauthorized use of their content across different digital platforms.

This issue is further complicated by the territorial nature of copyright law, whereby different jurisdictions have different copyright laws. It means that copyright holders have to navigate the legal systems of different countries to enforce their copyright and protect their works. The complexity and expense of enforcing copyright law globally make it harder for smaller copyright holders who lack the resources to pay for legal representation in foreign jurisdictions.

In conclusion, emerging technologies have made it easier for users to infringe upon copyrights and create derivative works without proper authorization. As a result, copyright holders face challenges such as piracy, unauthorized use of their material on social media, and navigating the different jurisdictions with varying copyright laws. To tackle these challenges, copyright holders must adapt their strategies and look for ways to protect their works across different platforms and regions. Meanwhile, social media platforms must also acknowledge their role in enabling copyright infringement and take steps towards recognizing the rights of creators and encouraging users to respect those rights.