If you haven’t seen this film yet, then where have you been? “RIP: a remix manifesto” a documentary about copyright and how it’s restricting the art it was built to protect. The docu film from Brett Gaylor is apparently 6 years in the making discussing the culture that has been created through the ability of access through the Internet and the shift from people not just being consumers, but creators.

Their manifesto is as follows:

1. Culture always builds on the past
2. The past always tries to control the future
3. Our future is becoming less free
4. To build free societies, you must limit the control of the past

It loosely follows the journey of serial re-mixer and performer Girl Talk. The film also includes Lawrence Lessig, who talks about changing the laws in order to make them more relevant to today’s society, rather than making people criminals. Metallica are in it, Industry lobbyist scaremongers (Rick Cairns),  It also has heartbreaking interviews with people who have been sued by the RIAA, for hundreds of thousands of dollars which has ruined their lives working towards paying a debt they will probably never finish (Jamie Thomas – $9,250 per song – 24 songs – $222,000). Seeing as these type of law suits (also known as hubcap), are no longer pursued by the IFPI and it’s member companies, shouldn’t these debts be dropped? Shouldn’t these people be able to pick up their lives and move on? Are these suit figures realistic of actual damage caused by downloading said tracks? Answers on a postcard.

Whatever you feel towards copyright, you’re going to enjoy watching this… so here are a few ways to do it…

• If you’re in the US, you can download the movie on a pay what you like basis (but only the US dammit)
• Anywhere else, you can stream it here
• You can remix/stream the film on this website (check it out, some cool features, very inspiring)

Today also introduces the release of Lawrence Lessigs book “Remix” on a creative commons license, so download the free PDF here!