review of RIP: a Remix Manifesto

     We are definitely entering a new era of copyright and creative liberties. Gone are the days when what constitutes copyright are defined in black and white. Today, the rules are less defined and much more convoluted. However, the reasons behind the copyright controversy are still the same, and as timeless as ever. The question is whether the material in question is a respectful tribute to the original artist's work, or a pirating of their ideas for profit. As Jonathan Lethem says in The Ecstasy of Influence, artists have been quoting and borrowing unoriginal ideas for centuries. For example, Bob Dylan frequently quotes other artists, including Shakespeare and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Other examples include remixes, which wikipedia defines as "an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. Sometimes this term is also used for alterations of media or recreation other than song" Although they may not technically use original material, most would argue that the artist invested equal creativity and effort. The laws definitely need to change to accommodate new media and technology.