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There is no idea of copyright distinct from copyright. o_O.

• ThomPete 15y ago
  There is a definition of copyright and the question is whether that definition can be said to apply to digital.
  • drostie 15y ago
    I'm not sure you understand the context -- for that matter, your terse replies make it hard to know what you think you're saying. But to respond anyways: there is a legal definition of the idea of copyright and the question is pretty well-settled whether that definition applies to digital works. There is no philosophical definition of copyright, for the reasons that I said above -- it's hard to regard it as an issue in philosophy.
    • ThomPete 15y ago
      I understand the context perfectly. To claim that the idea of copyright is pretty well-settled when it comes to digital works just illustrate the problem here. It's not well-settled cause there isn't anything to settle as such. This is not a discussion about right or wrong but about whether it should apply to digital work. Even a discussion of property on physical things aren't a settled discussion. There are no conclusion only a decision. There are a number of indicators hinting that it's far from settled when it comes to digital. Among other things the very fact that we are debating it and the very fact that many people don't seem to have a problem downloading things and don't consider it wrong. And not just because they are cheap. But because the very fundamental idea of demand and supply, the idea of owning ideas that are themselves byproducts of others ideas is way way way too complex to just say. Done deal. There is something more fundamental in play here. Perhaps for you, but not for me and many others.