3 ms·

I think that would wholly destroy the ability of writers to actually make a living writing novels. The fact that the living isn't great now does not justify thi

by adamc 3y ago

I think that would wholly destroy the ability of writers to actually make a living writing novels. The fact that the living isn't great now does not justify this.

avidiax 3y ago
People wrote great works before copywrite. People write for reasons other than money from the sales of the book. This accounts for most authors, who aren't famous enough to negotiate a great deal with a publisher. And we don't need to abolish copyright outright. Just require that it is continually published at a steady or decreasing price, or it becomes public domain. And put works in the public domain a little sooner.
- adamc 3y ago
  People did write before copyright. Copyright was established to make it more likely. Yes, people write for other reasons (e.g., self-promotion). But that does not account for "most authors" I would actually want to read. I'm not against copyright being different, especially for things that are written as work-for-hire. But that's a fight with Disney. Good luck.
  - dragonwriter 3y ago
    > People did write before copyright. Copyright was established to make it more likely. No, it was established to make investing in printing presses more profitable, which is why the rights initially attached to printers. Authors as the locus of rights were a later change.
- goto11 3y ago
  > People wrote great works before copywrite. Yes, wealthy aristocrats wrote whatever they wanted and less wealthy authors wrote what they got paid to write by their wealthy aristocrat patrons. Copyright and the publishing industry changed that to make it possible to live by writing for ordinary people.
  - izacus 3y ago
    And now wealthy aristocrats have been replaced by staggeringly wealthy megacorporations like Disney and WB. Its disgustingly dishonest to appeal for "poor" authors where casual glance immediately proves that modern IP law exceedingly profits only a few massive corporations and their shareholders.
- xhkkffbf 3y ago
  Yeah, these were rich people like Jane Austen and Mrs. Percy Bythe Shelley. Copyright makes it possible for the non-rich to create these works and make a living from a willing audience.

by adamc 3y ago

I think that would wholly destroy the ability of writers to actually make a living writing novels. The fact that the living isn't great now does not justify this.

avidiax 3y ago

People wrote great works before copywrite. People write for reasons other than money from the sales of the book. This accounts for most authors, who aren't famous enough to negotiate a great deal with a publisher. And we don't need to abolish copyright outright. Just require that it is continually published at a steady or decreasing price, or it becomes public domain. And put works in the public domain a little sooner.

adamc 3y ago
People did write before copyright. Copyright was established to make it more likely. Yes, people write for other reasons (e.g., self-promotion). But that does not account for "most authors" I would actually want to read. I'm not against copyright being different, especially for things that are written as work-for-hire. But that's a fight with Disney. Good luck.
- dragonwriter 3y ago
  > People did write before copyright. Copyright was established to make it more likely. No, it was established to make investing in printing presses more profitable, which is why the rights initially attached to printers. Authors as the locus of rights were a later change.
goto11 3y ago
> People wrote great works before copywrite. Yes, wealthy aristocrats wrote whatever they wanted and less wealthy authors wrote what they got paid to write by their wealthy aristocrat patrons. Copyright and the publishing industry changed that to make it possible to live by writing for ordinary people.
- izacus 3y ago
  And now wealthy aristocrats have been replaced by staggeringly wealthy megacorporations like Disney and WB. Its disgustingly dishonest to appeal for "poor" authors where casual glance immediately proves that modern IP law exceedingly profits only a few massive corporations and their shareholders.
xhkkffbf 3y ago
Yeah, these were rich people like Jane Austen and Mrs. Percy Bythe Shelley. Copyright makes it possible for the non-rich to create these works and make a living from a willing audience.