NEWS
EVENTS
Death of Memes, or the Death of Internet
Recently propoosed EU Article 13 of the Copyright Directive, might just be the death of memes, and internet culture as we know it.
The idea is that of a Robocop-like future for the intrnet, an automated system that will censor anything that uses copyrighted images, songs, or clips. How will this affect you? Those hundreds of pages you follow that share memes about communism/cats/depression, or what have you not? They all use copyrighted images.
Many experts have reviewed the system, and all have come to the same conclusion. It can not differentiate between a real imfringement unto the law, and media that is covered by fair-use laws, such as parodies, entertainment, and remixes.
Interestingly enough, we finally have an issue that unites the political left, and right. The left do not like the authoritarian approach, whereas the right do not pull any punches in regards to criticising EU legislation.
Jane Collins, a Member of the European Parliament for the Yorkshire and the Humber region for the UK Independence Party, replied to one of her constituents, in regards to the Copyright Directive with this:
‘Last summer I spent a whole day listening to lawyers from France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, the UK, and Belgium, all of whom are experts in digital media industries ripping the Directive apart and pointing out the issues in the Scarlett case making it clear that in its current form the Directive is going to create more problems than it solves. The faith in automatic filters displayed by the rapporteur and his team were bordering on tooth-fairy land’.
What can you do to try and stop this? Read more on https://saveyourinternet.eu/.
