Put Away Your Crayons, Kids. It’s Time to Talk Copyright
Can a 5-year-old grasp the importance of copyright? For some, hope springs eternal. Apparently stirred by fears that we’re raising a new generation of would-be infringers, the Entertainment Software Association has launched an anti-piracy curriculum for kids in grades K-5.
This isn’t the first time groups representing rightsholders have tried to promote copyright awareness to children. Last year Access Copyright briefly reached out to Canadian school kids with a “Captain Copyright” campaign. Recently the National Center for State Courts introduced a “graphic novel” highlighting the dangers of illegal music downloads. Even the U.S. Copyright Office has introduced an online cartoon series.
But these programs have little proven value and are fraught with risks. Explaining copyright to kids who can’t even spell it is tough; many adults don’t even understand the ins and outs of the law. Worse, these programs too often take a hard line on an issue that is filled with nuance, and in doing so undermine the point their creators are trying to make.
The ESA effort already has come under attack from parents and bloggers who accuse the organization of pushing its agenda on young children. Similar complaints caused Access Copyright to shelve Captain Copyright shortly after his debut.
At CCC, we’re all for educating people about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to copyright. We consider it part of our mission to create materials and run programs for corporations and academic institutions. But the question of how young is too young for kids to consume these ideas is a question industry organizations need to ask.
