Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

On 08, September 1998, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> On 2 Sep 1998, Timothy Phillips <hrothgar[_at_]telepath.com> wrote:
> >
> > Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Why would perpetual copyright deprive interested parties any
> > > more than ownership of real estate or personal property? I must
> > > accept that I am denied "access" to your property forever unless
> > > you are willing to loan, lease, or sell it.
> >
> > If what you claim to "own" ought to belong to all of us, then I
> > am deprived. In ordinary circumstances I have no trouble with
> > being denied access to YOUR property. But if works of art and
> > literature are "property" at all (which they aren't, but let us
> > admit it for the sake of argument) then they are public property.
> > Perpetual copyright denies me access to what is as much mine
> > as anyone else's.
>
> Your argument jumped the track when you claimed "works ... are
> public property." That is not true. My creations are not public
> property. My creations are mine. I can destroy them without penalty.
>
> I can determine if, when, how many copies may be published and how
> many times they may be performed. I have no obligation to the public.
>
> The public has no say.

"My creations are not public property. My creations are mine. I can destroy them without penalty."

If they are "published" they are available to the public. Strictly "private" works are not the topic here. How can you destroy what is already published?

"I can determine if, when, how many copies may be published and how many times they may be performed. I have no obligation to the public. The public has no say."

No, the public will tell you if your work stinks, by not buying it or going to see it.

Michael A Scarpitti
Assistant Editor
Materials Evaluation
1711 Arlingate Lane
PO Box 28518
Columbus, Ohio 43228-0518
800 222-2768 Ext 207
614 274-6003 Ext 207
Fax 614 274-6899
<mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> Received on Wed Sep 09 1998 - 14:33:10 GMT