Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

Having returned from an extended vacation, I've come into the middle of this thread. Nevertheless, I would like to support Tim Phillips' comments and especially that the public interest is best served by having a limited term of copyright protection. Indeed, this was the essential quid pro quo that Samuel Johnson supported in the terms of the Act of Anne (1710) over the perpetual term ensconced in the English common law. As with patents, the copyright owner under statute is granted an exclusive opportunity to exploit the work (with certain very limited exceptions) for a specific period of time, after which the general public may fully avail themselves of the work. It is this 'balancing' of rights that gives strength to the various aspects of innovation and creation - in coming up with new works and inventions, and in encouraging formulation of new ways to exploit and risk dissemination of older works.

Bernard Katz, Head, Special Collections and Library Development McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph ON Canada N1G 2W1 and Chair, Ontario Library Association Copyright Action Committee bkatz[_at_]uoguelph.ca // (519) 824-4120 X2089 // FAX: (519) 824-6931 Received on Tue Aug 25 1998 - 22:25:36 GMT