Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

On 30, July 1998, Michael Bradley <michael[_at_]vision-soft.com> wrote:
>
> Dan L. Burk <burkdanl[_at_]shu.edu> wrote:
> >
> > Consequently, consumers of the good should only have to pay for it
> > to the extent necessary to induce the creator to create it in the
> > first place.
>
> So you would also require manufacturers, say, to reduce the price
> of their products once the development costs earn out, landlords to
> reduce their rents once they've paid the mortgage, and lawyers to
> reduce their rates once they're repaid their student loans? My god,
> you're a Pinko!

Well, if they're suckers enough to buy over-priced goods, let 'em have them! Prices are determined by what the market will bear, if I am not mistaken. Rolex sells a lot of $10,000 watches. But "consumers" (how I hate that word!) often purchase goods through the most efficient channels of distribution and sales. If Simon and Schuster can sell the latest Stephen King novel at $10 and Little, Brown want $30 for the same thing, guess who gets the sale! The trouble with this is that publishers don't really compete on price, but on authors. Mr Burk's line of reasoning is, therefore, all wet.

Michael A Scarpitti
Assistant Editor
Materials Evaluation
1711 Arlingate Lane
PO Box 28518
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<mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> Received on Fri Jul 31 1998 - 14:27:50 GMT