Re: copyright under stress

On Mon, Jun 19, 2000, Eric Eldred <eldred[_at_]eldritchpress.org> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Jun 16, 2000, Marty Hayes <9ball[_at_]hostsite.net> wrote:
> >
> > [...]
> > Whether it's licensing schemes, goods and services, private education
> > or any other thing... all come with a price. As a consumer, it's up
> > to me to assess the relative value of a thing against the price that
> > I will pay for it. It's up to me to determine if I can afford it or
> > not. If I cannot afford it or if I don't believe its value is worth
> > the asking price, then I have to find a workable alternative.
>
> So do you think FAIR USE in distance education should also come at
> a price? The price to be negotiated between the consumer and the
> producer, or part of a separate understood bargain at time of
> purchase (or rental under a license)?

I am not qualified to comment on the specifics of US law -- most other countries in the world have no fair use doctrine, although there are other limitations to the author's exclusive right. For every person who is able to access the material without paying (whether under fair use or a similar doctrine), that's one fewer people to share the original cost of production. The more broadly limitations such as fair use are construed, the more those who cannot benefit from them will have to pay...

Edward Barrow
edward[_at_]plato32.demon.co.uk Received on Tue Jun 20 2000 - 19:07:24 GMT