Interview with Matt Mullenweg by Annalyn Jusay of Manila Bulletin
The full transcript of Matt Mullenweg’s interview by Annalyn Jusay of Manila Bulletin can be found on her blog. Apparently the newspaper cut the interview due to space constraints—another advantage of new media over traditional media!
But let’s save that issue for another day and enjoy how the old meets the new in this interview. Some snippets below. Here is Matt’s first impressions of the Philippines and its people based on our own version of WordCamp:
Q. It’s your first visit to the Philippines and spent some time at the maiden Philippine edition of the WordCamp. First impressions?
A. People love taking pictures here and I prolly had more than a hundred of that in the WordCamp. It just blew my mind. It’s a little bit common in other parts but not the same here. During the event, I saw that Plurk was really big. Everyone was plurking!
Filipinos are very warm, very outgoing. I think it’s cultural. In places like Germany, they’re a little more reserved. Filipinos like talking and communicating. You have big families, it seems. I was hanging out and this person has, like, five cousins in the room. I love that all the warmth and openness creates a very vibrant blogging community.
And here’s his opinion on the divide between blogging/new media and traditional media:
Q. Now that blogging is a big thing and publicists are discovering the bloggers, what can you say about it?
A. There’s a danger if you get started being invited to more events and start to be treated like traditional media. Bloggers, then, become more like traditional media. They’re afraid to publish something because they might offend someone who gives them money or advertises on their blog. And that is dangerous because then, you’re no different from traditional folks.
It’s great that people are making money from their blogs but, just like journalists, you should try to balance the editorial and the business side. Focus on the long term, not short term.
Manila Bulletin strikes back against Anton Sheker, claims fair use
Update: Anton Sheker confirms the story and shares his feelings on the matter.
What’s the latest development in this photographer-blogger lawsuit against Manila Bulletin for copyright infringement and damages? The newspaper has filed a counter lawsuit for exemplary and moral damages at 2 million pesos.
According to Abe Olandres, Manila Bulletin “claims fair use in its publication of the photos”. I’m not quite sure if Manila Bulletin or the Philippine copyright law is at fault here. I hope that our lawyer bloggers a.k.a. blawgers lend their expertise on the matter.
Mixed emotions but the the fight for copyright and how this will affect any dealings with future copyright issues online pushes me forward…I can now scratch out this part of my bucket list!
I’m sure many Filipinos will be disappointed when it just so happens that the plagiarizing party comes out of this unscathed. Fair use or no fair use, does resorting to counter lawsuits and technicalities reflect the ethics of true journalism?
Photographer-blogger sues Manila Bulletin for copyright infringement
Filipino photographer and blogger Anton Sheker has filed a lawsuit against Manila Bulletin for copyright infringement and damages.
In October 2007, Sheker presented proof that this major daily publication used his photos of Vigan. They appeared in a Travel & Tourism article in March 2007. He got featured in the Picture Perfect column as artist of the week, but without his photos.
Even ABS-CBN, who has allegedly done the same thing to several bloggers, reported about this. According to the article:
The law does have its say on the matter. The country has a Copyright Law under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines that protects literary and artistic works, including photos. In one of its sections, it is noted that “Works are protected by the sole fact of their creation,” an automatic copyright protection, as some may view it. Penalties for violators may be subject to fines ranging from P5,000 to P 150,000, and P1,000.00 for every day of continued violation, among others. (A copy of the Intellectual Property Code can be read here: http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1997/ra_8293_1997.html)
Does Anton stand a chance in court? Will the small-time Pinoy blogger leave a scar against a mammoth media outfit?
The same newspaper that threatened to slap me with a criminal case if continued my claim.
If Manila Bulletin has nothing to hide, why are they being defensive?
