Yesterday was our our first symposium that was run on the basis of questions developed and asked by students and then in turn, answered by our tutors. Focusing on one of the greyest areas of internet use; the wrongs, rights and maybes of copyright dominated our discussion.

Beginning with question, ‘How much freedom do we have when discussing someone or someone else’s work?’, Adrian talked about the technicalities of defamation, the way in which it is dealt with as a crime and the ways in which to avoid it. Throughout this segment of the discussion, I found the most valuable and insightful advice Adrian had to give was to simply know the difference between critique and opinion. Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, yet it’s pretty common etiquette to refrain from shouting it out at the local shops. So why should anyone have to read it on the internet? With the way that links and tags are ruling the online word, shouting your self proclaimed opinion in an ear width of strangers is now no different to posting it on your personal blog or Facebook newsfeed.

Following on from defamation, Adrian gave us some much needed insight into the do’s and don’ts of copyright law. Now this was confusing stuff! It really made me question how anyone produces anything textured or interesting on the internet and how blogs in particular have become so well established when what made them so popular in the first place was in fact their ability to share, comment and extend on presented ideas and visual content between one another.

In class today however, Jason Tseng made things a little bit simpler by comparing it to jay walking. Everyone does it even though its technically an illegal offence. However, most people have the common sense not to jay walk across the Monash freeway, across the Westgate bridge, or even through a four way intersection. That, to put it nicely, is just stupid. Similarly, although everyone may post a photo or two off google that they don’t credit, or link a home video of the family cat off vimeo without the producers permission, however most people will not try and claim the footage of the latest Batman film as their own.

Its a confusing world in here guys. Just remember, as yo mamma always said ‘its always better to be safe then sorry’