Before & After, Copyright laws

My opinion on copyright laws have definitely changed just after a few classes! After learning the real definition of copyright infringement, I realized my first impression of copyrighting was very incorrect. In class we have studied several different cases in which people have stolen others work. At first, I did not think it was a big deal. For example, I thought that the artist of a song wouldn't care if someone downloaded their music for free on the Internet.Well, I thought wrong.

In class we looked at a website where several different artists wrote their opinion on copyright infringement and every single person was 100% against it. I never knew that by downloading illegal music on the Internet, not only does it not pay the artist, but it doesn't pay any of the people that helped produce the music/album! The artist might be rich, but the people who help aren't. So basically, when you download free illegal music it's like the people who helped with the album aren't getting paid! How would you like to devote hundreds of hours at work and not get paid?

There are ways to get around copyright infringement. This is called fair use. Anyone can access public domain or documents over 75 years old without it being considered plagiarising. Facts and common knowledge are also free to the public to use. You just have to be smart about what you do! Copyright infringement is easy to get around if you use your resources the right way.

After researching a few copyright infringement cases, I found one that fits the topic well. In 1966 the Isley Brothers recorded and released a song called, "Love is a Wonderful Thing". In 1991, Michael Bolton released a song with the same name, and several of the same lyrics. Hmm.. what does this sound like? Copyright Infringement! The Isley Brothers filed a suit on Michael Bolton for stealing their music, and they won. Michael Bolton had to pay the group 5.4 million dollars. Michael should have thought before he broke the law by plagiarizing. I think the punishment was fair. Michael Bolton was making tons of money off of The Isley Brothers hard work! Hopefully this case stops people in the future from plagiarizing.

Technology Autobiography

Technology is such a broad topic, so many areas of discussion! In this post I will talk about my own experiences with technology and about my beliefs of what technology will be like in the future.

First of all, technology has grown tremendously! Do you remember back when laptops didn't exist? When cellphones were very rare to have? When a touch-screen had never even been thought of? I sure do, and I've only been on this planet for a short 16 years. Technology has advanced rapidly in just that short amount of time! Can you imagine what its going to be like 40 years from now?

I have no doubt why technology advances so quickly, our world today relies on technology for daily tasks. Many businesses couldn't function without their software,computers,etc.. Technology has become a priority. From past experiences, I've learned that technology is VERY helpful. I think anyone would agree with me when I say it's so much easier to just log on google and ask a question then to look it up in a book (I do it all the time). Technology is used daily throughout schools in America so that tells you right there how important technology is if its brought into the education system. I've already learned several new things from my very own technology/computer class back at school. So that's a definite fact of the infinite learning possibilities with technology.
Even though technology's positives over weigh the bad, it also has its negative effects. I, myself have experienced this myself. Technology tends to lessen your social skills and also causes many social problems. For example, online cyber bullying. That problem never existed before computers & cellphones were brought into the picture. There are many positives and negatives with technology, I think everyone would agree with this!
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One of the first computers
"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Old_computer_2.jpg"