On Wed, Oct 05, 2005 at 05:17:51PM -0700, Michael O'Keefe wrote: > >>>I guess I'm just of the opinion that if I create something (write a > >>>novel) or invent something (design a new screwdriver) that I own it. > >> > >>Absolutely you do. But let's assume we live in a universe without > >>copyright laws. Once I see your creation, I can reproduce it as my own, > >>and you get nothing. Then there's a thousand copies of "Happy Birthday" > >>out there, each one being sung differently, and nobody gets a thing out > >>of it. > >> > >>Copyright protects you from me doing this, and in return, you agree that > >>the copyrights will become public domain after 80-odd years, or until a > >>coprorations profits are threatened, whichever comes first.... > > > >I guess I am just of the opinion that that ownership is inherent and > >inalienable, like my right to life, liberty ..... If I understand it > >correctly, your argument starts from the opposite end (?) > > Well then I guess you would like to live in an idealistic world where > everyone else will recognise your right to have control of the works you > create without needing any enforcement of those rights. > > Unfortunately, we don't live in that world, and the majority of us (that > have responded at least) don't want to, becoz we don't feel that > copyright should be owned forever, and at some stage, you give it up, > for the right to have those protections in place to make your $$ while > you can. > > You (and your kin) can claim ownership for all eternity, but the law > will only help you so far >
I would like to see corporate ownership of copyright *sharply* curtailed. My law would be, once any corporation has a copyright assigned to it, the clock starts ticking and 15 years later it's public domain, no exceptions or extensions. Lifetime of the artist is OK as long as the artist owns it. -- Lan Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linux Guy, SCM Specialist 858-354-0616 -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
