> There is a brief history of copyright on wikipedia
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_copyright_law
Nice find!
> In the USA public works have always, thanks mostly to Jefferson,
> been deemed to be the public property, and the right to exploit
> been a limited right granted by the people, while the french argument
> was that they were the absolute property of the author (as I
> understand it).
>
> It seems the Berne Convention brought the French view into line with the
> USA tradition, as much as the other way or am I wrong?
Sounds right, but since I'm just a guy who read a couple of books I can't
say for sure. :o)
> That article points out that the concept of copyright was
> a result of the invention of the printing press, is it not possible
> that it's supercedence by modern digital communications
> also lead to similar fresh thinking?
Yes. These technologies are so radical that we do need to rethink how
copyright law is formed. The current attempts like DMCA in the US and
InfoSoc directive in the EU are not the solution at all. My personaly
opinion is that the absolute rights of the author must be retained, but
"forcing" them through DRM is not productive - the current protection
through civil suits are good enough. What new copyright needs is an easy
way for authors to sign off some of their rights (like CC, but ingrained
in law instead of through license) - this is something that all of our
governments have not seen is necessary.
--
Andreas Haugstrup Pedersen
<URL: http://www.solitude.dk/ >
Commentary on media, communication, culture and technology.
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