Under The Training Book: drm

Anyone who knows me knows I'm no fan of the black market pirating of media or abuses of other peoples copyrights. I've had money taken directly out of my pocket by people pirating my work and seen people violating my copyright to materials I dished out money to create and I'm a nobody so lets put some things out of the pitch right away. One being the notion that true copyright violations don't harm anyone but big mega companies and two that I'm trying to play the middle here. I wanted to get that out of the way off the bat.
I even have the opinion that its the right of a creator or copyright holder to use DRM if they wish to. I don't agree with its use and think it really serves no real purpose to action but its their rights. It's the choice of the creator/copyright holder to how they wish and don't wish for people to see their work. It's a matter of simple choice but then again matters of choice in today's world is always painted in as many fashions as possible to make it look like anything but what it is- Choice.
What comes up a lot when I express these views is the subject of fan creations and parodies. It's as if people are pointing a shaking finger at me saying, "But But YOUR HATE FANS." or "You just don't understand the future."
Let me address the second thing there first. Neither do you unless your a fucking Time Lord. Using the "Information is free idea to justify stealing is just stupid. Nope. Sorry. Your being stupid. But that is taking this down a off topic road. I just wanted to mention it because I get that a lot.
Now to the first scream at me. I think fan fiction is a great starting point for writers and artists and fan zines and websites have saved more shows that network cash flows. Promoted shows better than any marketing plan. Anyone with any intelligence can see these are not attacks on anyones copyright. I would tell any writer or creator that goes after these non-profiting making ventures to just shut up. Get over it. These people are crowd sourcing for you, enjoy the ride or drown in quite.
And to the subject of parodies. Parodies are covered as not being a violation of a copyright, unless that's another dumb shit law some dump truck brained politician changed that I missed and didn't get the chance to rant on.
The same as fair use is defined in law. And to the subject of fair use. Scans Daily and the like are not fair use. Shut your shit shorts. Just because you like something, that doesn't make it legal. If you want to stand there and talk about how "I only read the stuff I would never buy." or "It's not available in print in the U.S." or wherever you live. No. No. No.
I know this has turned into more of piece on pirating than I wanted but bare with me. I've always said the thing that angers me more than anything else about pirating is people will get so angry and so upset when you call it stealing. They are ready to fight, from a anonymous location for the most part, when you call them thieves but to me I just wish people would admit it. It's says a lot about a persons personal delusions to justify things in their mind that they will not even see that it's the true. You a thief. For someone to convince themselves of that lie is how they go forward with doing it time after time without another thought on the subject. Thieves are thieves but at least have the backbone to face it face to face. Don't hide behind cowardly delusions.
But, and here's what I really wanted to talk about today. It really pisses me off when people like Fox go after fan parody t-shirts, and ect.
Over the past few weeks I've had two friends tell me about letters they've gotten from Fox and other companies to stop or TO COURT WE GO. One of my favorite websites also had to take a parody t-shirt design down.
You want to know why companies like Fox come off looking like jackasses in these situations? Because sir they are acting like jackasses.
These companies just don't understand that fans end up doing these type of projects because you aren't doing creative enough merchandising for your shows, books, ect. You are only looking at your project in one way when it comes to marketing. Slap on a logo or publicity photo and that's it. Lazy, lazy, lazy.
Fans today like to look at their favorite stuff from many angles. They like to make fun of the things they love, they like to twist and play with these things, and they come out the other side still loving them the same. Mar and I mockingly quote our favorite shows all the time. We rant about the stupid things that happen and go nuts over HOLY SHIT moments.
And to the subject of HOLY SHIT moments. Why aren't companies taking advantage of that? After moments like Rick finally showing some balls after the finally of the second season of Walking Dead they should have had t-shirts and posters that where sad, mocking, darkly comedic, and twisted twisted twisted reading on their website to GO GO GO.
One of the reasons I hate Fox and the like going after fan parody merchandise sometimes is their clear overall lack of creativity when it comes to marketing their stuff. It smacks of stupidity and maybe a lack of talent in those departments.
And heres another idea. I know its radical and out there and C R A Z Y but how about hiring these people to design things for you instead of being asshats? Why not approach them and say, "We really love this design. How about we pay you a commission for it and then mass produce it?"
Most "official" websites suck. Most "official" merchandise sucks. That's what springs these talented people into action making things their friends and themselves like. Hire these people and they will make you money. You know money, that thing that you rub on your balls while watching world hunger commercials. These talents are out there, not where you are, change the sheets people and not only do what cools but do what profitable.
I know people will ask, "What if someone was doing this with one of your characters." See above to my answer to that. Or another answer that might come from me is, "Cool. I love it. Can I have one for free?" :) But either way I don't see parodies as copyright violations in any fashion and going after them is a true sign of how scared these big companies are about their future.
When companies should be mining the internet to find new approaches to merchandising and marketing all they are doing is driving away the very talents who could be making them butt loads of more money.
Make it rain people, make it rain.

.....i really should be ashamed for saying make it rain.

Some cool links to check out:

I like the IT GETS BETTER videos but this is true. Here Hank Green talks about bullying and dealing with it. I Am Not a P#$$Y - this video contains mild swear words.
Hank Green also talks about Cognitive Biases and Brain Crack and How To Be Green Without Being A Dick Also I want.
Support this Kickstarter. A voice isn't about reaching millions but every voice can reach out, help RT/SHARE Garlicks

John Green FIFA game fun: Of Publicity and Perfection: The Miracle of Swindon Town #123 Life After College: The Miracle of Swindon Town #124

Rants:
If the government doesn't go after politicians for stuff like this then they are basically saying aiming violent images out into the world to be redirecting with blood towards women is ok. Anyone remember Gabriella Giffords or did I just imagine that? But then again we all know its ok to do such things when it involves women. Comments about throwing acid at female politicians is just par the course. This is the America women live in daily. California GOP Candidate’s Machine Gun Ad: ‘TAKE LINDA SANCHEZ OUT OF OFFICE’

John Scalzi talks about his book Redshirts being released DRM free. I agree with all of his points. The DRM Thing and Redshirts
Defeating the distribution of information is the front lines of the war from governments against the people. Canadian border guards demand inbound journalist's mobile phone contacts, prohibit writing while in-country - Boing Boing
Have you ever played the game DESTROY ALL HUMANS? It's a really stupid fun game. One of the many weapons the alien has is a anal probe gun. I wish I had that gun, I so wish I had that. GOP Congressional Spokesman: ‘Let’s Hurl Some Acid At Those Female Democratic Senators’

Discourse is one big ripping anal fissure in America right now. Bleeding and leaking talk with no reason, logic, or truth.

I’m been thinking about writing; which, you know, writers probably should do from time to time. Thinking about reasons to write, what to write, and what the future holds for myself and others. These things have been pacing their way through my mind a lot of late so excuse me while I ramble a bit.

I think every writer sits on a hilltop looking out holding the same notebook with its 2,000th skin wondering if this time, this story, these words will finally speak in their voice. Self-publishing adds attack dogs sneaking up on the hill behind you. Then again trying to edit your own work also adds a swarm of bees coming your way. Oh, and by the way you in this scenario sweat honey.

During the revolutions of the past the artists, the writers, they spoke the voices that needed to be heard. They did it with straight truths and they did it with symbolism and allegory. Their blood drips were glassed with parables and fables to protect those laying down their lives for the fight.

It’s not like we have lost our way in better times but in the days we live in now I see a future soon where we will be returning to those walks.

I know it’s a cliché but the internet is the Wild West for artists. It’s up to the artists not to tame this atmosphere of chaos but to ride it like a stallion you don’t want to tame because if a twister is coming you will need a horse with flames coming from its nostrils to make it to the other side.

The publishers are hiding in their houses from the weeds and flying dust and screams scaring them to the point of freezing in spot with tears and pissed filled pants. They were scared in the early days of the internet, frozen with fear when it was just sprinkling, they were afraid when the clouds were just graying.

We can’t wait for them to take action to push these tools forward- it’s up to the artists to do that. Writers must always be ready to hold the hands of human error and that’s what the internet is. There are a lot of great talents out there doing this already, many have been doing it for years.

I’ve been doing the monthly releases for about a year now. After the first storylines wrap up in Tin Universe and Chaos Read I’ll be looking at whether I will be continuing to do them and if so in what form.

Now I don’t have any sort of built in following like Mark Waid has but I do think releases such as that can work. I’m one who thinks it works better digitally than print now. If approached well the monthly comic book, short story, daily publication- I think they can not only survive but thrive.

It will be interesting as time goes by to see how things work out for Mark Waid. I’ll be following along to not only see what materials he produces but also to see if I can learn anything from how he is doing it.

The Installment Plan

http://markwaid.com/?p=799

I have a feeling you will start to see more and more of this when it comes to blogging. It’s already happen quite a bit with laws trying to saw bloggers have to reveal if they get stuff for free for reviews. And with laws like that most bloggers are saying fuck you but when it comes down to it soon I see where courts will ask the question that with everyone having the chance to basically be their own newspaper or news outlet then should they be held to the same standards as those places legally? Now not saying that applies with this story but I think this jerk ass move by Hasbro reminds me of other thoughts I’ve had.

Hasbro tricks fan-blogger into revealing his address so they can send him legal threats over widely available leaked product - Boing Boing

http://boingboing.net/2012/04/24/hasbro-tricks-fan-blogger-into.html

As I told a friend when they pointed this story out to me- This publisher is trying to do it right. They are trying to win when a lot of publishers are just trying not to lose when it comes to ebooks. It’s a sports metaphor but I think it really fits when you talk about how publishers, record companies, and studios have approached the internet.

ECW Press will launch a “Free eBook with Purchase” campaign

http://ecwpress.com/ebook

Now to start I’m going to say I don’t think DRM works. It causes so many problems and not just for people who are pirating stuff. It creates a lot of bad feelings from customers. But I also want to say something a lot of people seem to forget. I choose to not DRM my materials if I have that choice in places I publish through but that is part of the choices artist, writers, whoever should be allowed to make when it comes to their work. That’s a personal choice with their work that they produced. I don’t think it’s the right choice but it’s their choice.

Tor/Forge to Go DRM-Free By July: Immediate Thoughts

http://wp.me/p5Fv-4MJ

I’ve been running the You Pick The Price model for Chaos Read and have found that most people will just choose to read it for free. I’m probably going to keep using it in some way for projects but not for any other reason than it will be just be a different approach. It does seem though that people would rather you set the price and they choose to buy or not.

Pay-What-You-Like pricing study is bullish on naming your own price - Boing Boing http://boingboing.net/2012/04/23/pay-what-you-like-pricing-stud.html

I love what people like John Green, Felicia Day, and Chris Hardwick are doing with their YouTub Channels. I will add in names like Kevin Smith, Amanda Palmer, and tons of podcasts as people out there producing some very interesting projects.

Genres Stretch, for Better and Worse, as YouTube Takes On TV

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/arts/television/youtubes-original-channels-take-on-tv.html?_r=1

Stray Thoughts:

I was told recently that I have a writer's body. I guess someone telling me I have a writer’s anything is good? Right?

Someone asked me today if I have a filter. It’s a lot thinner than it once was but yes I do. What you see from me online is a little filtered. If someone I know is reading this ask Mar and she will tell you what it’s like dealing with me unfiltered.

Cool things you should check out:

John Green’s FIFA season ends and I’m sad. I love watching these videos. Not just because I love sports games but also because of the stories John Green creates for the team and players. Added to the game is how John discusses topics with a wide range as he plays- everything from YA fiction to self-esteem

Self Esteem: The Miracle of Swindon Town #106:

http://youtu.be/KFYQ54iei7s

The Future: The Miracle of Swindon Town #107:

http://youtu.be/bae_Sn1dyMM

Everyone knows I’m a big Felicia Day fan and her The Flog show is one of the best on her YouTube Channel.

Felicia Day & Robin Thorsen Cook Up An Old Family Recipe in "Torta" - Th...: http://youtu.be/sj4wOwC0ezk

Felicia Day Plays Violin with Tom Lenk - The Flog, Ep 4:

http://youtu.be/R9GgKg_3D-k

I bought a t-shirt yesterday. Go there a support Geektress which is one of my favorite podcasts.

@Geektress: Every t-shirt is on sale and there are a couple designs on clearance for $5.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/geektress

and I’ll leave you with this.