Re: Abandoning property (Was: Copyright Extension Bill Passes Congress)

On Mon, Nov 9, 1998, Moritz Roettinger <moritz.roettinger[_at_]dg23.cec.be> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 6 Nov 1998, Michael Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
> >
> > Because if it has no value in the market, there's nothing to
> > "protect", is there?
>
> Sorry, but that's not true.
>
> Firstly, if an out-of-print work has no value for a certain publisher,
> the author may seek another one.
>
> Secondly, who determines the "value"? It may be of value or at least
> of a certain personal value for the author only. Even if an object
> has no value on the market (e.g. an old car or a horrible picture
> nobody wants to buy), it is protected by law.
>
> Thirdly, if there is no value so why should any (copyright) protection
> be harmful? Take the example of computer programmes which are
> protected for 70 years p.m.a. in Europe. This does not harm the
> further development although the programmes loose their value within
> few years.

Who determines the value? The market does, of course. If, after a period of seven years, say, nobody wants to reprint it, what value is there in it? I say there's nothing left to protect. Earlier on in the thread "Copyright expiration" somebody brought out that the early US law on copyright connected copyright with being in print. I shall try to find that message.

Michael A Scarpitti
Assistant Editor
Materials Evaluation
The American Society
For Nondestructive Testing
1711 Arlingate Lane
Columbus, Ohio 43228-0518
(800) 222-2768 X207
(614) 274-6003 X207
fax (614) 274-6899
e-mail mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org Received on Tue Nov 10 1998 - 13:50:36 GMT