September 1, 2003

Writers of the World, Unclench

Digital technology is making it impossible to control the spread of intellectual property. So, how are artists supposed to make a living from their work? Give it away. Every line we succeed in publishing today—no matter how uncertain the future to which we entrust it—is a victory wrenched from the powers of darkness. —Walter Benjamin For about five years now, I’ve been obsessed with the... [More >>]

September 1, 2003

Unchain your melodies! Why we should stop worrying about ’stolen’ music

It was a snowy April day in Ottawa, and a collection of us culture-types were sticking our heads out of the permafrost to discuss one of the most important issues facing the arts in Canada. Twenty creators—musicians, writers, visual artists, filmmakers—joined Sheila Copps, the mighty minister of Can-Con, and various heritage department officials to conduct a potentially policy-shaping discussion... [More >>]