Linda Gruber's story about cars is entertaining, but I think
misses two points:
- Intangible property, especially intellectual property, is
different from tangible property. If someone copies a song from
a CD, the CD as a device is not harmed. Giving cars (or any other
tangible thing) back is not a close analogy. Now maybe a taxi
medallion would be closer -- after X years, you can no longer
charge others for rides in your car, but you get to keep the car
(and can give people rides for free). But of course that does not
sound nearly as strong for the point.
- The issue is always balance -- I still refer people to the
Charles Mann article in the Atlantic Monthly (still viewable on
the magazine's web site). If copyright too long -- you get less
new stuff (and lots of violation of the rule); if copyright too
short -- you get too much junk (and less new stuff). It is
getting the balance right that is important -- arguing that life
plus 70 is too long is not the same as saying all copyright is bad.
Roland J. Cole, Executive Director
SOFTWARE PATENT INSTITUTE
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN STREET
INDIANAPOLIS IN 46204-3535
317-231-7799; fax 317-231-7433
cole@spi.org; http://www.spi.org/
Received on Fri Aug 04 2000 - 21:39:14 GMT