Do you have the right to use it?

Licensed under CC0, source: pexels.com

Content creators make new things for us to see, to laugh at, to feel something, and even calling us to action.

A YouTube mashup can make us laugh.


But do we know who has the rights?

Did this content creator have permission from all of the film companies to use clips from their films? Did they have permission from Bruno Mars for the song?

This is where mashups walk a fine line. Yes, this is content that has been created for us to enjoy, but it also is using copyrighted material.

But this person made this, right? They created something new, this is an idea they came up with! They put in the time and effort!

It doesn't change the laws that protect it. There is still copyright ties to the material.




What about a cover song?

Unfortunately it still falls under copyright protections.

To post a cover song "the right way" the creator would need the permission from the original artist in order to post. Additionally if it's a video, they might need the rights to make a video as well. It's a lot to go through for someone looking to get their talent out there.

As creators, we want to make new things and look at things in different ways. Unfortunately, copyright prevents us from doing so. It hinders the environment of sharing and creating, and building on one another's ideas.

It's hard to take a hard stance on copyright, because I want to say people should do as they wish. However, it's also disheartening as a creator to see someone take what you've worked hard on and called it their own.

There's a whole emotional side apart from the legal side.