This document summarizes the results of an international survey on attitudes toward copying and remixing digital content. Some key findings include: - Awareness and consumption of remixes like music mashups, video remixes, and machinima has increased significantly in the US over time. - Consumption and engagement levels are generally highest in countries like the Philippines, India, and Singapore. - US opinions on issues like originality and copyright have changed substantially between 2006-2014, with more respondents finding some level of copying to be acceptable. - Criteria for evaluating the ethics of remixes and copies include permission, commercial use, authenticity, innovation, labor, and other factors. Respondent opinions

1. ETHICS EVOLVEDAN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON
COPYING IN THE NETWORKED AGE
Aram Sinnreich, PhD
Associate Professor
American University SOC
Presented at
American University SOC
Faculty Forum
November 3, 2015

2. /INTRODUCTION/
MY PARENTS’ DINNER TABLE CONVERSATION, C. 1982
Yiddish
17%
Latin
22%
Curse Words
13%
Grownup English
29%
Regular English
19%

3. Configurable
Culture

4. /CONFIGURABLE CULTURE/
NEW CULTURAL FORMS & PRACTICES
MemesMashups Machinima …& Much More

5. /CONFIGURABLE CULTURE/
CONSUMPTION VS. PRODUCTION
CONSUMPTION PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION-
ADJACENT
CONSUMPTION-
ADJACENT
???

6. /CONFIGURABLE CULTURE/
NEW CULTURAL LOGICS, NEW SOCIAL FORMATIONS & INSTITUTIONS

7. Survey

8. /SURVEY/
RESPONDENTS: ONLINE, ENGLISH-SPEAKING ADULTS
2006
1,779
U.S.
2014-15
452 U.S.
945 non-US
U.S. 452
U.K. 172
India 147
Australia 144
Canada 118
Philippines 83
New Zealand 52
Ireland 52
Singapore 52
South Africa 51
Malaysia 47
2010
1,100 U.S.
1,955 non-US
U.S. 971
India 291
Turkey 270
Canada 148
Canada 148
South Africa 146
Philippines 129
Israel 64
Australia 63
Singapore 62
U.K. 52
Sweden 41
Malaysia 40

9. Awareness

10. /SURVEY/AWARENESS/
AWARENESS OF CONFIGURABLE CULTURE HAS JUMPED IN THE U.S.
PHOTOSHOP
MUSIC MASHUP
MODS
AMV
VID REMIX
MACHINIMA
NONE
0 25 50 75 100
17.9
11
27.6
21.5
16.6
24.1
42.8
14.6
10.6
31.8
25.1
12.9
31.4
39.6
1.3
40
53.8
57.1
58.4
77
90.3
US 2014
US 2010
US 2006

11. /SURVEY/AWARENESS/
MUSIC MASHUPS: U.S. AWARENESS BY AGE, 2006-2014
18-25
26-34
35-44
45-54
55+
0 25 50 75 100
8.3
20.7
26.8
28.8
49.2
21.1
21.8
36.9
48
60.4
51.5
65.8
71.6
82.1
85.8
US 2014
US 2010
US 2006

12. /SURVEY/AWARENESS/
MUSIC MASHUPS: AWARENESS BY NATION, 2010-2015
US
PHILIPPINES
UK
S. AFRICA
CANADA
SINGAPORE
AUSTRALIA
INDIA
0 25 50 75 100
44.3
30.2
41.9
41.2
47.9
34.6
56.6
31.4
42.2
44.4
57.7
61.9
62.8
69.8
69.9
77
2015
2010

13. Consumption

14. ≈
/SURVEY/CONSUMPTION/
CONSUMPTION HAS SKYROCKETED IN THE U.S.
PHOTOSHOP
MUSIC MASHUP
MODS
VID REMIX
MACHINIMA
AMVS
NONE
0 25 50 75 100
44.4
7.1
5.2
10
6.9
11.9
14.5
4.9
19
20.1
25.2
38.9
43.4
68.1
US 2014
US 2010

15. /SURVEY/CONSUMPTION/
GENERAL CONSUMPTION BY NATION, 2010-2015
US
INDIA
PHILIPPINES
S. AFRICA
SINGAPORE
UK
CANADA
AUSTRALIA
0 25 50 75 100
59.3
61.4
60.4
80.4
70.6
88.4
86.2
55.6
60.4
73.7
75.6
80.8
86.3
91.6
94.6
95.1
2015
2010

16. GLOBAL CONSUMPTION BY AGE, 2010-2015
18-25
26-34
35-44
45-54
55+
0 25 50 75 100
55.3
58.8
73.4
83.8
95.3
52.8
69.6
85.8
91.9
95.6
2015
2010
/SURVEY/CONSUMPTION/

17. Engagement

18. /SURVEY/ENGAGEMENT/
MUSIC ENGAGEMENT BY NATION, 2010-2015
PHILIPPINES
SINGAPORE
US
INDIA
S. AFRICA
UK
CANADA
AUSTRALIA
0 25 50 75 100
73
73
65.4
89.7
92.1
64.7
90.3
98.4
75
78.2
87.2
94.1
95.2
95.8
96.2
98.8
2015
2010

19. /SURVEY/ENGAGEMENT/
VIDEO ENGAGEMENT BY NATION, 2010-2015
PHILIPPINES
INDIA
US
CANADA
S. AFRICA
UK
SINGAPORE
AUSTRALIA
0 25 50 75 100
52.4
69.4
53.8
71.9
53.4
53.8
84.5
84.5
59
65.4
68
70.6
75.4
87.2
92.5
92.8
2015
2010

20. /SURVEY/ENGAGEMENT/
MUSIC: U.S. ENGAGEMENT BY AGE, 2006-2014
18-25
26-34
35-44
45-54
55+
0 25 50 75 100
20.5
29.2
36.5
43
61.2
56.4
60.2
67.4
74.9
87.5
93.9
97.4
95.1
96.5
95.3
US 2014
US 2010
US 2006

21. /SURVEY/ENGAGEMENT/
CUSTOM MUSIC RADIO: U.S. ENGAGEMENT BY AGE, 2006-2014
18-25
26-34
35-44
45-54
55+
0 25 50 75 100
1.2
2.5
4.8
8
9.5
7.5
9.9
11.8
20.1
16.7
9.1
31.6
41.2
39.9
48.1
US 2014
US 2010
US 2006

22. /SURVEY/ENGAGEMENT/
GLOBAL AWARENESS VS. CONSUMPTION VS. ENGAGEMENT, 2014/15
PHOTOSHOP
MUSIC MASHUP
MEMES
VID REMIX
AMV
MACHINIMA
0 25 50 75 100
5
4
5
22
7
34
15
19
24
43
33
53
27
46
52
58
63
79
Awareness
Consumption
Engagement

23. Opinions

24. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT ORIGINALITY, 2006
25
50
75
100
32.3
49.1
18.5
25
50
75
100
44.6
44.7
10.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
22.2
59.9
17.9
Original Sometimes Never

25. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT ORIGINALITY, 2006-2010
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
18.7
18.7
32.3
48.7
49.1
13.9
18.5
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
26.7
25.2
44.6
38.7
44.7
9.410.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
10.4
20.8
22.2
60.4
59.9
8.3
17.9
Original Sometimes Never No Answer

26. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT ORIGINALITY, 2006-2014
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
1
18.7 13.7
18.7
32.3
62.7
48.7
49.1
22.5
13.9
18.5
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
12.126.7
30.3
25.2
44.6
42.4
38.7
44.7
15.2
9.410.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
3.8
10.4 11.3
20.8
22.2
57.5
60.4
59.9
27.4
8.3
17.9
Original Sometimes Never No Answer

27. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT COPYRIGHT, 2006
25
50
75
100
42.2
45.6
12.2
25
50
75
100
60.5
33.9
5.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
27.7
53.3
18.9
All Fair Some Uses All Theft

28. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT COPYRIGHT, 2006-2010
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
18.2
31.6
42.2
43.9
45.6
6.412.2
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
17.7
47.4
60.5
30.8
33.9
4.15.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
2006 2010
16.7
29.2
27.7
43.8
53.3
10.4
18.9
All Fair Some Uses All Theft No Answer

29. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT COPYRIGHT, 2006-2014
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
18.2 18.6
31.6
42.2
56.9
43.9
45.6
24.5
6.412.2
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
9.117.7
36.4
47.4
60.5
48.5
30.8
33.9
6.14.15.7
18-25 35-44 55+
0
25
50
75
100
2006 2010 2014
2.8
16.7 12.3
29.2
27.7
49.1
43.8
53.3
35.8
10.4
18.9
All Fair Some Uses All Theft No Answer

30. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
U.S. OPINIONS ABOUT ORIGINALITY BY EXPOSURE, 2015
Heard of
Mashups
0
25
50
75
100 2.3
10.1
65.5
22.1
Original Sometimes Unoriginal No Answer
25
50
75
100
1.7
6.1
69.1
23.2
Heard of
Machinima
25
50
75
100
1.6
8.9
65.9
23.6
Heard of
AMVs
25
50
75
100
13.6
27.2
40.9
18.2
Never Heard of
These Four
25
50
75
100
1.6
10.3
64.6
23.5
Heard of
Vid Remix

31. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
ALL/SOME USES CAN BE “ORIGINAL”, 2010-2015
US
PHILIPPINES
INDIA
SINGAPORE
CANADA
UK
MALAYSIA
S AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
0 25 50 75 100
44.4
56.8
65
55.8
52.7
56.5
51.9
62.8
54.8
45.1
58.8
63.8
65.1
65.3
65.4
68
79.5
84.1
2015
2010

32. /SURVEY/OPINIONS/
ALL/SOME USES SHOULDN’T REQUIRE PERMISSION, 2010-2015
US
PHILIPPINES
UK
MALAYSIA
CANADA
INDIA
SINGAPORE
S AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
0 25 50 75 100
34.9
44.5
56.5
45
45.3
52.5
50
47.3
44.6
38.9
49
51.9
54.4
55.1
57.4
58.7
62.7
79.4
2015
2010

33. Ethics

34. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
THE ETHICS OF CONFIGURABILITY: 12 CRITERIA
Unethical Criterion (n = 574) Ethical
Unpermissioned Legal (91) Permissioned
For profit Commercial (37) Not for profit
Pretension AuthenAcity (24) Referenced
Unoriginal InnovaAon (121) Original
Easy Labor (7) Hard work
BastardizaAon Moral (8) Homage
Rupture ConAnuity (17) EvoluAon
Useless/Harmful Use Value (112) Fun/Beneficial
Ugly AestheAc (69) BeauAful
Subversive Power RelaAons (37) Empowering
Meaningless Self Expression (35) Expressive
ExploitaAve Industry RelaAons (16) PromoAonal

35. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
CRITERION: AUTHENTICITY
“Remixes are enjoyed by some
people but those who are
making it should consider
crediting the owner of
material.”
- Filipino M, 30-34
“They’re fine as long as
they aren’t blatantly
ripping off other remixes.”
- U.S. M, 22-25
“Remixes are fun, but the
original creators should
be given their due credit
as well.”
- Irish F, 26-29

36. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
CRITERION: INNOVATION
“I have NEVER seen or
heard anything that, in
my opinion, is better than
the original.”
- Australian M, 70+
“I think mashups are a
form of musical art and
and sometimes even
sound better than the
original.”
- S. African M, 22-25
“Some remixes are very
innovative others are
poor copies.”
- U.K. M, 60-64

37. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
CRITERION: POWER RELATIONS
“I feel that technology has
moved to a point where
legislation can no longer keep
up with controlling permissions
on copyright materials”
- Australian M, 65-69
“The DMCA system is
corrupted and abused to hell
and needs a reform”
- U.S. M, 30-34
“i think major copyright reform is
required. The law has lost its
meaning. How does applying
copyright for 50 years after the
death of a person provide
incentives to continue creating.”
- Irish M, 30-34

38. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
CRITERION: INDUSTRY RELATIONS
“I think copyright holders
(music labels, movie
companies) could do more to
make material available to
talented remixers and masher-
uppers - supporting people
who can get their stuff to new
audiences could be a good
business move.”
- Australian F, 30-34
“So long as the individual does not make
money from somebody's work, mashups
and remixes should be allowed. In my
eyes I see it as free advertisement.”
- U.K. M, 18-21
“I think large organizations should view
mash-ups as free advertising and be glad
that they're getting extra exposure, as
long as no one is making money off it..”
- Canadian F, 26-29

39. /SURVEY/ETHICS/
ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS VARY BY NATION (2014/15 DATA)
US Phil Aust Malay Canada NZ UK India S. Afr
Innovation
Use Value
Legal
Aesthetic
Power
Expression
Commercial
Authentic
Industry
Continuity

40. Law

41. /COPYRIGHT LAW/
CHANGES AFOOT IN COPYRIGHT LANDSCAPE (OCTOBER 2015 EDITION)
TPP COMPLETION:
LONGER (C) TERMS
ANTI-CIRCUMVENTION
DRM MANDATE
RESTRICTIONS ON FAIR USE
CISA PASSAGE:
IDENTIFIES IP AS A
“CYBERSECURITY” ISSUE
GRANTS LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE
FAIR USE WINS:
GOOGLE BOOKS
LENZ V. UNIVERSAL
TUFAMERICA V. JAY-Z
Domestic
OPEN LICENSING:
CREATIVE COMMONS:
1 BILLION LICENSED WORKSInternational
DMCA EXEMPTIONS

42. THANK YOU.
ARAM@AMERICAN.EDU
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