Resisting for no reason
I have to admit I have resisted using Flickr only because with all of the other Web 2.0 applications I use I had to draw the line somewhere. Perhaps it is good that this class if forcing me to explore it because it seems to have some very useful applications outside of sharing photos with families and friends. Upon further exploration of flickr these last few days I can’t help but notice how it ties into our generally theme of the class. The first reading I thought of was the chapter Platforms for Participation in Wikinomics. The opening to the chapter talks about the early creation of Google maps. It seems that many of these Web 2.0 programs were created the same way. It seems that client participation platforms are the basis of Web 2.0. Flickr arose from the development of an online gaming platform which was later scraped and Flickr became the primary focus of the group (Wikionmics). For this reason I see Flickr as an emerging platform that is largely shaped by user participation. It is obvious that Flickr also falls nicely into place with our discussion from last week regarding copyrighted material. It is obvious that while much of the material on Flickr is intended for personal use by others in the network, it is also clear that other material needs to be protected from "poachers" who may feel that they have the right to use other's material as their own. The Creative Commons video really applies to this discussion and although I'm not sure where I stand on the topic I do feel that some material is meant to be shared while others is meant to be protected. Do think that material shared on site such as Flickr should be fair game or do you think that the standard copyright laws should apply to that material as well? I know legally this question has already been answered but I still feel it is an interesting discussion especially in light of our class.
My personal opinion of Flickr has changed since I actually began using it. I think that once you bite the bullet and add it to your collections of Web 2.0 programs it is very useful and interesting. I love how it brings such a large community of people together. The more I explore and utilize it the more I will grow to appreciate it.
Comments
Regarding your question about copyright and material on flickr, I think we should be careful when choosing photos for our wiki. Not overly cautious but aware of the "permissions culture" we're operating in. When I read about a law suit involving a photo from flickr that pictured a minor, it gave me pause. A lot of the photos about the bridge picture people who probably didn't know they were being photographed. There's a possibility someone could object to our use of a photo with his or her image in it.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 5, 2008 10:05 AM
Here’s my answer to your question about material on Flickr being fair game or should it have standard copyright protection.
Realistically, I think it is already fair game. If I want to use a photo somehow for my own personal use, I am going to download it and use it…copyright laws be damned. This may not necessarily be right, but I bet it happens all the time.
Now if I want to use a photo for some commercial use or on a website, I think it should be given protection/credited to the artist. But then again, by posting it online, the photographer wants people to see it and its online existence seems to be an announcement to the world that they want to share. Hasn’t the artist already given it away for free? I don’t think it’s realistic for the photographer to expect some sort of monetary compensation. Sounds like why buy the cow when the milk is free.
Posted by: MichelleJ | April 6, 2008 04:24 PM
Hi Stephanie, I totally could understand how you resisted using Flickr at first because of all the other Web 2.0 applications explored. I could see how all these applications may seem a lot to take in. I'm glad that you are feeling more comfortable with Flickr and that you're getting a lot from it now. Being open to exploration is a good thing because sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I'm hesitant to try new things and resist, but a lot of times the outcome is better than I would have ever imagined.
Posted by: Hoang-Uyen N. | April 6, 2008 10:30 PM