(OT) Unauthorized copying ... was Re: (no subject)

From: Paul Berger <sanepsycho_at_globaldialog.com>
Date: Sat Jan 18 19:50:00 2003

On Sat, 2003-01-18 at 18:10, Sellam Ismail wrote:
> On 17 Jan 2003, Paul wrote:
>
> > If copyright suddenly disappeared, people would still write stories,
> > sing songs, program computers and society at-large would continue.
>
> True, or did creativity start when copyright laws were put into effect?

I think we both know that creativity has always existed, the only thing
that copyright does is provide a slight incentive. :^)

> > The generally quality of works would probably be lower so copyright in
> > general is probably good for society.
>
> There is an inifinite body of work that precedes copyright law which is
> greater in quality than anything being produced today ;)

There is a very large body in the public domain ... though I remember
reading a study that show of all the works that have been resisted to
the library of congress 90%+ have been registered in the last 70 years,
but this does not really cover *old* works.

The stuff that has survived hundred or thousands of years is of course
better quality than most the stuff produced today because of a form of
"natural selection" were people naturally protect works that are
compelling in some way.

Regards,
Paul
Received on Sat Jan 18 2003 - 19:50:00 GMT