“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moment’s notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-16 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of June 6, 2016
Podcast for this week:
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Copyright Madness
Depending
on how you want to look at it, copyright law is either lots of fun or
a royal pain in the butt. It’s fun when you’re on the outside
looking in at the contortions some people will try to pull off in the
legal actions. If you’re on the inside, no matter which side of the
argument you find yourself, it can be an enormous pain.
on how you want to look at it, copyright law is either lots of fun or
a royal pain in the butt. It’s fun when you’re on the outside
looking in at the contortions some people will try to pull off in the
legal actions. If you’re on the inside, no matter which side of the
argument you find yourself, it can be an enormous pain.
For
example, Madonna just won a copyright infringement case against her
1990 number one hit “Vogue”. The copyright holder for the ’70s
recording group the Salsoul Orchestra, claimed that a horn section
from one of their songs was used in the Madonna hit. On appeal, the
court ruled that the section was so small that the general public
wouldn’t recognize it. The section in question was, for the
musicians out there, a single quarter note. For the non-musicians,
that’s one twenty three hundredth of a second. Zero point two three.
That may seem like a “well, duh” kind of decision, but it could
be pivotal moving forward. A previous ruling had basically stated
that any use, no matter the size, required paying for a license to
use the music. The courts will have to continue to shape the law
moving forward.
example, Madonna just won a copyright infringement case against her
1990 number one hit “Vogue”. The copyright holder for the ’70s
recording group the Salsoul Orchestra, claimed that a horn section
from one of their songs was used in the Madonna hit. On appeal, the
court ruled that the section was so small that the general public
wouldn’t recognize it. The section in question was, for the
musicians out there, a single quarter note. For the non-musicians,
that’s one twenty three hundredth of a second. Zero point two three.
That may seem like a “well, duh” kind of decision, but it could
be pivotal moving forward. A previous ruling had basically stated
that any use, no matter the size, required paying for a license to
use the music. The courts will have to continue to shape the law
moving forward.
Lawsuits
like this happen all the time. Donald Trump recently settled a suit
for using an image without permission. Justin Bieber has one.
Skrillex and Justin Timberlake have another. A deepwater salvage
company is suing the state of North Carolina in another. There is a
fairly high profile case going on right now in the world of YouTube.
One video creator is suing another because he didn’t like what the
second group said about one of his videos. The channel being sued
does what are called “reaction videos”, which are a form of
instant criticism.
like this happen all the time. Donald Trump recently settled a suit
for using an image without permission. Justin Bieber has one.
Skrillex and Justin Timberlake have another. A deepwater salvage
company is suing the state of North Carolina in another. There is a
fairly high profile case going on right now in the world of YouTube.
One video creator is suing another because he didn’t like what the
second group said about one of his videos. The channel being sued
does what are called “reaction videos”, which are a form of
instant criticism.
And
that’s the pivotal point in all of this. It’s a legal concept called
“Fair Use”. Our copyright law says that if you are using a small
portion of a copywritten work for the purpose of criticism, news
reporting, teaching or research, you can use it, under certain
circumstances, without permission or payment. In Madonna’s case,
Fair Use wouldn’t qualify since she was using the clip for profit.
In the case of the YouTube reaction video channel, their defense has
been Fair Use all along. It’s not unheard of that people will try to
dampen criticism with this kind of suit.
that’s the pivotal point in all of this. It’s a legal concept called
“Fair Use”. Our copyright law says that if you are using a small
portion of a copywritten work for the purpose of criticism, news
reporting, teaching or research, you can use it, under certain
circumstances, without permission or payment. In Madonna’s case,
Fair Use wouldn’t qualify since she was using the clip for profit.
In the case of the YouTube reaction video channel, their defense has
been Fair Use all along. It’s not unheard of that people will try to
dampen criticism with this kind of suit.
I
kind of wonder about the logic of the man bringing the suit. Like it
or not, criticism comes with the territory. You need to learn to
deal with it. P.T. Barnum is alleged to have said “I don’t care
what they say about me as long as they spell my name right”.
kind of wonder about the logic of the man bringing the suit. Like it
or not, criticism comes with the territory. You need to learn to
deal with it. P.T. Barnum is alleged to have said “I don’t care
what they say about me as long as they spell my name right”.
Barnum’s
advice in this case might be to sit back and enjoy the original free
publicity, rather than wade into the craziness of the copyright pool.
advice in this case might be to sit back and enjoy the original free
publicity, rather than wade into the craziness of the copyright pool.
Useful Tech
I
am fascinated watching new technologies finding their place in the
world. Some of them never do and simply wither and die. It’s not
enough to be fun or innovative. In the end they have to find a real
use in our lives, otherwise they’re just another Tomagachi©.
am fascinated watching new technologies finding their place in the
world. Some of them never do and simply wither and die. It’s not
enough to be fun or innovative. In the end they have to find a real
use in our lives, otherwise they’re just another Tomagachi©.
Wearable
technology is searching for the ways it can be useful in our lives.
Activity monitors are an obvious one. Recently I’ve been reading
about devices designed to help us change our behavior. One strikes
me as amusing while the other feels like there may be a real
possibility of being a game changer.
technology is searching for the ways it can be useful in our lives.
Activity monitors are an obvious one. Recently I’ve been reading
about devices designed to help us change our behavior. One strikes
me as amusing while the other feels like there may be a real
possibility of being a game changer.
The
amusing one is from the folks at Intelligent Environments. The
kicker here is that it is designed to help you control how much money
you spend. It is connected to your bank account. It can do simple
things like turn down your thermostat (using an internet connected
device) if your bank account dips below pre-set limits to help you
save money. My favorite is the wearable accessory that will give you
a shock if you spend more money than your limits. You get a text
message as you approach the limit and the shock when you go past it.
As yet, no bank has signed up for the program. Color me shocked.
amusing one is from the folks at Intelligent Environments. The
kicker here is that it is designed to help you control how much money
you spend. It is connected to your bank account. It can do simple
things like turn down your thermostat (using an internet connected
device) if your bank account dips below pre-set limits to help you
save money. My favorite is the wearable accessory that will give you
a shock if you spend more money than your limits. You get a text
message as you approach the limit and the shock when you go past it.
As yet, no bank has signed up for the program. Color me shocked.
On
the other hand, there are wearable devices designed to help us modify
other behaviors. To break bad habits or encourage good ones. One of
these was designed by a child
psychologist who works with child on the Autism spectrum or with
ADHD. The device is worn like a wristwatch and is designed to help
them stay focused and on task all during the day. It can do things
like remind them to copy down assignments, or be an active
participant in class. The device can also help the parent/child
relationship because it can remove from the equation the need for the
parent to act as constant nag.
the other hand, there are wearable devices designed to help us modify
other behaviors. To break bad habits or encourage good ones. One of
these was designed by a child
psychologist who works with child on the Autism spectrum or with
ADHD. The device is worn like a wristwatch and is designed to help
them stay focused and on task all during the day. It can do things
like remind them to copy down assignments, or be an active
participant in class. The device can also help the parent/child
relationship because it can remove from the equation the need for the
parent to act as constant nag.
The
possibilities for other uses is considerable. Imagine having
something that could remind you about the new habits you want to
develop. Eating reminders, assistance in physical training regimens,
making sure that medications are taken on time, even reminders for
spiritual practices like prayer! The devices look like sports
watches, so they draw no particular attention to themselves. They
come with 65 pre-set reminders and now can accept personalized
reminders too. All this for comfortably under one hundred dollars
each. Just google “Watchminder”. (Note: there are several companies offering these kinds of devices)
possibilities for other uses is considerable. Imagine having
something that could remind you about the new habits you want to
develop. Eating reminders, assistance in physical training regimens,
making sure that medications are taken on time, even reminders for
spiritual practices like prayer! The devices look like sports
watches, so they draw no particular attention to themselves. They
come with 65 pre-set reminders and now can accept personalized
reminders too. All this for comfortably under one hundred dollars
each. Just google “Watchminder”. (Note: there are several companies offering these kinds of devices)
Privacy
issues are going to be the stumbling block for the spending control
unit. No one is going to want to have a device connected directly to
their bank account that suffers from security issues. So the
immediate benefits of the second technology will probably come into
our lives first.
issues are going to be the stumbling block for the spending control
unit. No one is going to want to have a device connected directly to
their bank account that suffers from security issues. So the
immediate benefits of the second technology will probably come into
our lives first.
I
can only imagine the line that would form of people who would like to
put a personalized reminder for me on one.
can only imagine the line that would form of people who would like to
put a personalized reminder for me on one.
Pewdiepie
Recognizing
the best and brightest has a long history in many fields. Whether it
is the Heisman Trophy in college football, or the Oscars, Emmys,
Grammys, Tonys, MTV Video Awards, groups and industries like to take
a moment to recognize the folks that are doing, presumably, “Really
Good Work”.
the best and brightest has a long history in many fields. Whether it
is the Heisman Trophy in college football, or the Oscars, Emmys,
Grammys, Tonys, MTV Video Awards, groups and industries like to take
a moment to recognize the folks that are doing, presumably, “Really
Good Work”.
The
Internet has begun to do likewise. Probably the best known award in
this venue is the “Webby”, awarded The International Academy of
Internet Arts and Sciences. Among the positives for the Webby award
is that tradition of five word acceptance speeches. On the other
hand I doubt more than a handful of listeners can name a single Webby
award winner. I will confess that I can’t name even one. So the
Internet award field looks to still have room to grow.
Internet has begun to do likewise. Probably the best known award in
this venue is the “Webby”, awarded The International Academy of
Internet Arts and Sciences. Among the positives for the Webby award
is that tradition of five word acceptance speeches. On the other
hand I doubt more than a handful of listeners can name a single Webby
award winner. I will confess that I can’t name even one. So the
Internet award field looks to still have room to grow.
YouTube
is trying to bring a little recognition to some of it’s most
successful creators with the “YouTube Creator Awards”. Not to be
confused with the “YouTube Awards”. That second contest is to
recognize the top quality videos of each year. The first is just to
recognize those channels that have great subscriber success. These
are also known as “Play Buttons”. Once you hit one hundred
thousand subscribers you qualify for the Silver Play Button. Hit the
million subscriber level and you qualify for the Gold Play Button.
Finally when you hit the ten million subscriber level you get to call
yourself a Diamond Play Button winner.
is trying to bring a little recognition to some of it’s most
successful creators with the “YouTube Creator Awards”. Not to be
confused with the “YouTube Awards”. That second contest is to
recognize the top quality videos of each year. The first is just to
recognize those channels that have great subscriber success. These
are also known as “Play Buttons”. Once you hit one hundred
thousand subscribers you qualify for the Silver Play Button. Hit the
million subscriber level and you qualify for the Gold Play Button.
Finally when you hit the ten million subscriber level you get to call
yourself a Diamond Play Button winner.
With
some forty four million subscribers, Felix Kellberg, better known as
Pewdiepie, is numero uno in the YouTube-iverse. He should be able to
start wall papering his studio with these things. Just recently, a
package arrived at his home and he did an unpacking video to share
the moment with his fans. It was a Silver Play Button. Not a happy
camper. Then a second box appeared. When he unpacked that it turned
out to be a Gold Play Button. A broken, Gold Play Button award.
some forty four million subscribers, Felix Kellberg, better known as
Pewdiepie, is numero uno in the YouTube-iverse. He should be able to
start wall papering his studio with these things. Just recently, a
package arrived at his home and he did an unpacking video to share
the moment with his fans. It was a Silver Play Button. Not a happy
camper. Then a second box appeared. When he unpacked that it turned
out to be a Gold Play Button. A broken, Gold Play Button award.
He
went on an epic video rant, which, if you are planning on checking it
out is decidedly Not Safe For Work. He is now demanding four Diamond
Play Buttons, covered in a tasteful amount of glitter, delivered by a
beautiful bearded man on a horse with a written apology. While
Pewdiepie is having great fun with his outrage, he has promised that
if he doesn’t get his awards within a month he will do…something,
there is some serious corporate stupidity going on here.
went on an epic video rant, which, if you are planning on checking it
out is decidedly Not Safe For Work. He is now demanding four Diamond
Play Buttons, covered in a tasteful amount of glitter, delivered by a
beautiful bearded man on a horse with a written apology. While
Pewdiepie is having great fun with his outrage, he has promised that
if he doesn’t get his awards within a month he will do…something,
there is some serious corporate stupidity going on here.
YouTube
announced that they would be giving out these awards a while ago.
Like, two years ago. The fact that, in two years time, they haven’t
managed to highlight the single most successful channel on the
planet, is really rather stunning
announced that they would be giving out these awards a while ago.
Like, two years ago. The fact that, in two years time, they haven’t
managed to highlight the single most successful channel on the
planet, is really rather stunning
#givepewdshisdiamondplaybutton
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2016
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Stories Are My Life 
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