Copywrong or Copyright... Why Can't We Just Share?

I hate to admit this, but I can't remember exactly what class we were in when this video was used. However, listening to the the Wimba session again, I was reminded of how things were when copyright truly mattered to me. Not that it doesn't now, but when I was a young songwriter back in my more youthful era, song theft was high and as the industry tangled itself in webs of lies because everyone wanted to get paid. I was one of those artist who would write out my music and put it in a sealed envelope and mail it to myself. I also mailed my music to significant family members just to back myself up. Interestingly enough, I still became a victim of copyright infringement when my manage sold my music to another producer. I had stepped away from the game to concentrate on school and to get back at me...well you get the point. I wanted to sue, but I didn't know truly what to do, so instead, I tried to benefit from the wrong but sending the original version to the same producer along with a little proof that I was the creator. I was thinking that because they liked the music they would produce it and I would get my money. But because of the conflict in ownership of the song made caused disinterest and the producers walked away. However, in today's world Creative Commons would have been my hero. (mind you this was 15 years ago) I love the idea of sharing in order to collaborate and everyone getting a hand up on the game. I think if our society wasn't so selfish and greedy and operated with the CC mentality, we as a culture would be far more advanced today. A rule in my class is C3B4ME! Which means, before coming to me looking for a solution, collaborate with 3 others to see what you can come up with. Some great ideas have come out of this rule and it frees me up to observe and guide instead of lecture. My students have realized that the sharing of knowledge is key in creating something extraordinary and it's that generation that will reshape our world.