Read my latest story, "The All-Nighter", at 52|250.

Wednesday, July 11th is Fair Use Day. Fair use includes everything from the right to make copies of songs or software for your own use to your ability to quote and comment on commercial “intellectual properties” that play an important role in your culture. This includes satirical takes on Mickey Mouse or various mash-ups. Fair use is about the ability to work with the materials that make up your culture not only to create but also to criticize. Without fair use, I’d need permission to quote Buffy: the Vampire Slayer in the paper I’m presenting in Liverpool this Saturday.

Today, think about all the copyrighted material you’ve used or copied; consider how you’ve exercised your free use rights. Educate yourself about fair use. And, if you’re in the US, tell your representatives to support the Fair Use Act of 2007. Remember, without fair use, culture belongs only to those who can afford it.

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