Re: Napster destroys Western Civilization

On Sat, 6 May 2000, Jeroen Hellingman <jehe[_at_]kabelfoon.nl> wrote:
>
> I have no idea how to come up with a new scheme "to promote progress
> of sciences and arts", but probably that would come from some kind
> of licencing scheme, in which ultimately the creators will be happy
> to have a much smaller amount from a much larger part of the
> population. If we can come up with a scheme that says, you may copy
> my works for some amount per unit, and the amount is not too large,
> and the enforcement reasonably easy, many people will be happy to
> comply.

I think this is a very dangerous slippery slope toward the elimination of fair use. It move from an affirmation of the rights of citizens to some free access to information to a regime of price control. We only have to look at our cable TV bills to know how effective Congress has been in making sure people pay an equitable price for access.

-- 
S. Warwick
swarwick[_at_]sprynet.com

Seven Blunders of the World That Lead to Violence
  Wealth without work         - Science without humanity
  Pleasure without conscience - Worship without sacrifice
  Knowledge without character - Politics without principle
  Commerce without morality
         Mahatma Gandhi