> Digital libraries are far more inefficient because of overly strong copyright laws and impotent fair use laws, not because there is something intrinsically wr

> Digital libraries are far more inefficient because of overly strong copyright laws and impotent fair use laws, not because there is something intrinsically wrong with the digital format. It saddens me that we are doing our best to destroy the intrinsic advantage of ebooks: availability for anyone to read, nearly anywhere in the world, basically for free. These are nearly ideal properties for libraries and readers, but are bitterly opposed by authors, publishers, and distributors who depend upon the current publishing business model. I'm not sure what the right balance is among stakeholders, but it's certainly not what we have now. The loss of value to humanity as a whole is great, and most authors don't seem to have decided to embark upon a new writing spree simply because copyright was extended. At least we can finally enjoy the bestsellers of 1925 (such as The Great Gatsby) without worrying about copyright or royalties.