Lucas films Phantom Menace
From Mod Mania
Lucasfilms with the aid of a new online program called Eyespot has given star wars fans the ability to "remix" their favorite video clips using ones own creativity. Eyespot gives the user the power to create their own customized clip using a combination of images, video and music. Thus, letting the user create his or her own work of art in the name of star wars.
Lucas films is amongst the numerous companies jumping on board an already tested and successful way of making money buy "pimping" the user. This is a simple yet unethical theory where by, in order for Lucas films to stay on top of the industry they have to give the consumer exactly what they want. And what better way of doing this then by getting the consumers to create their product. Why pay someone to do all their hard work when the fans are doing it for free?
Lucasfilms intern trick the user into thinking that each users own creative work is exactly that, their own. Where as in reality, a close read of Eyespot's terms and conditions will reveal that in exchange for the right to remix Lucasfilm's creativity, the user has to forfeit all rights to what he produces. This stops the user from even sharing, what he has created with other users or on a platform such as YouTube. This entire process is an indiscreet form of steeling, where the Lucasfilms turnover millions of dollars from work and ideas created by the fans, who are left empty handed for their troubles. Lawyers are fighting to to find a way to compensate the user for their work, though at the present time their is little that lawyers can do for the rights of the user in an industry where their advice is " protected from the market." Many predict that these trends will go on to be embraced in the future where the creators will be more respected, and thus creating more market competition.
