Picture This

Well, obviously, I still can't get a picture to move. I'm just going on without one.

I noticed the article on the Creative Commons website regarding copyright laws. They seem pretty negative about the protections that exist for artists who make a living off their work. The idea of comparing Disney's retelling of Grimm's Fairy Tales to the pictures of Mickey Mouse that were shown on that website seems ridiculous. For one thing, by the time Disney made his movies, the Grimm brothers were long dead and their families weren't depending on their work for financial security.

Yes, Creative Commons exists as an alternative to "normal" copyright protections. Artists who choose to share their work through CC are certainly willing to do so. However, not all artists wish to have their work clipped, edited, collaged or mishmashed by everyone and his brother.

A copyright is like a lock on the door of your house. You can choose to leave your door open and allow anyone who wants to come in and help himself to do so, or you can maintain control of your posessions. In the case of copyrighted art, the posessions are mental energy, creativity, inspiration and skill that the rest of us may not have. Derek Slater can choose to leave his door open, but he should not criticize those who prefer to lock their property safely in.