> It protected works to reward authors during their lifetime. This was the pitch by the (printing) companies that established copyright to gain a legal monopol

> It protected works to reward authors during their lifetime. This was the pitch by the (printing) companies that established copyright to gain a legal monopoly on copying. > Instead of supporting the small fish, copyright law can reinforce the dominance of the sharks and whales. This was always the case. It's just worse now. Personally I'd love to see sane copyright laws. That is, abolishing copyright. Copyright only helps people in power stay in power. Oh, does Disney argue that you used a character of theirs in your story? Does it even matter if you did? You think you can take on Disney's lawyers? It doesn't matter if copyright is 5 years or 500. You're going to lose. Art, and things erroneously treated like art under copyright like software, would be so much better if people could do it without fear of being a victim of copyright. Imagine if anyone could add their own flare to any story ever. Incredible.