Copyright

[malvarma]

There was a conversation in the IRC channel about copyright earlier. I was curious what you all think. Do you think current US Copyright Law needs reform? Should it be strengthened or weakened? For those outside of the country: What are the laws where you live? How do you feel about it?

I for one think copyright law in the United States needs to change. Most new works don't enter the public domain until 70 years after the author's death. As I understand, the goal of copyright is to encourage artists and thinkers to make new works by giving them a state granted monopoly over the distribution of their works. What will extending the term past their death accomplish? Do the dead need incentives to write books?

Not to mention, the ambiguity surrounding public domain has created many orphaned works.

What's more, the current law punishes offenders unfairly. In one case, a man was sued for $675,000 for illegally downloading 31 songs. If he had physically shoplifted the same amount of music from a record store, he would have owed the store 50 dollars at the most. Downloading 31 songs does not inflict $675,000 dollars worth of damages on the recording industry. Why does the current law award record companies thousands of dollars per stolen song?

Please share your thoughts.

[Cain]

Oh for the love of God.

[Suu]

POOL IS ON THE ROOF.

[Doktor Howl]

There was a conversation in the IRC channel about copyright earlier. I was curious what you all think.

1.  I think we've had this discussion 5 times since January.

2.  I think you're a complete fucking shitneck.  Thanks to you, Charley pulled down his story-in-progress.  I was enjoying reading that, and you fucked it up.  Way to break it, hero.  Now, fuck off.

[Cain]

I THINK COPYRIGHT LAW SHOULD KILL 11/12THS OF THE HUMAN POPULATION.  FOR THE DOLPHINS, MAN.

[Cain]

When I hear the word "copyright" I reach for my gun.

[Suu]

...Should I pull my story down?

[Cain]

Happiness is a warm copyright infringement injunction.

[Doktor Howl]

...Should I pull my story down?

Naw.  You've got a date/time stamp on it here.

Also, if the little fucknozzle does steal it, well, who's the google fu daddy?  Oh, yeah.

[Cain]

And the peace of Copyleft, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[Cain]

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and have your foolishness copyrighted

[Cain]

Hitch your wagon to a copyright lawyer.

[Suu]

Even so, even though I don't release my art and writing into Kopyleft (I prefer Creative Commons so I can maintain credit for my portfolio if the piece is good), I know I'm still protected.

And quite frankly, 70 years after I'm dead...more power to ya'll.

[Cain]

Neither irony nor copyright is argument

[Doktor Howl]

Remember, kids!  Artists and musicians do what they do for the sheer joy of it!  They don't need to make a living!  Property is theft!  RAAAAAAAAAWK!