Thanks Wolfgang This is off topic so this is my last email on it.
> What is the ethic behind parking spaces, that were free, being made into paid ones with a meter? > More on topic, what is the ethic behind copyright being extended from 50 to 70 years after Disney asked for it? Who can pass up an opportunity to defend parking meters? The parking meter money goes to various forms of government. The government spends most of its budget on social services, health, and education, all ethically driven pursuits generally in favour of the most vulnerable in society. Most other government funding is provided to activities also generally in the public interest, though not all. VAT ditto. The motivation for copyright law was ethical as it ensured writers were reasonably recompensed for the months or years of unpaid creative effort required before publication of works. The subsequent change to UK copyright law was to harmonise the UK's 50 years after death with the EU's 70 years, and coincidentally the US's 70 years. The change was more practical than ethical. There are numerous problems in the details of copyright law but they do not undermine the essential spirit of the law. I am not sure of Disney's role but the US copyright period gradually increased in six stages since the late 1700's. Certainly laws may not be ethical, and changes to ethical laws may or may not be ethical. Best wishes Richard Howe -----Original Message----- From: Ql-Users [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Wolfgang Lenerz Sent: 08 July 2016 08:39 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Withdrawal of my personal Software Preservation Project Hi, > > Sorry. To clarify: Those who 'simply' observe the law are not > considering the ethics behind the law, they are just following the > rules. The point is to understand the ethics (the spirit of the law). Unfortunately, there isn't always one. What is the ethic behind VAT? What is the ethic behind parking spaces, that were free, being made into paid ones with a meter? More on topic, what is the ethic behind copyright being extended from 50 to 70 years after Disney asked for it? > I do appreciate your thought about dismissing a point of law that is > unethical. > The problem with ethics is that they are too changeable. My ethics may include not eating pork, or going arounb with a berad or some form of headgear, or women having less rights than men, or homosexuals being labeled as deviant etc ad nauseam. >> There are also people who are simply evil. > > In Buddhism the only sin is ignorance. Profound ignorance can result > in evil acts. The people themselves are not considered evil, though > they still get locked up. OK, I profess my ignorance on buddhism. However, there are people who, for example, hurt others, fully knowing what they are doing and that they shouldn't be doing it. To my mind, they are not ignorant to any degree. Sorry for going so far off topic. Wolfgang _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List
