What is it that makes this one small video so entertaining that the kid and his family can live off the proceeds. That is one question, the other (more interesting) question I have though is what makes an entertaining and, granted, funny, video so influential that an Australian broadsheet news paper on the other side of the world thinks it is news worthy.
The development of online technology means that everything we do on the net has immediate consequences and can be interactive. What we as journalists need to begin to understand is that what one ordinary every day person does online these days is not news. What society as a whole needs to begin to understand is that your actions online have an immediate outcome but just as quickly as you create that moment of entertainment someone else can copy it some how.
Does David’s father have the right in this situation to put a copyright on this video, I personally would argue no. The person who made the star wars parody of this video or any of the others who have taken the piss have as much right to fame over their work as David’s father does. Considering all David’s father did was pull out the camer while his son was off his face I’d question his right to be making a living off it any way.
As for Hesse’s “article” I’d suggest that it is more likely an ad for the video which in the end will just result in the family making more money on T-Shirt or sticker sales. Thankfully some of the money is being given to dental hygiene. I should be a little transparent here and point out that as a journalist I do this too but at least I’m just encouraging people to get involved in a survey which is not going to make me or the Foundation for young Australians any money.
