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I think the point of copyright is that this is the system that came into effect from the chaos that previously existed. Patronage, trade guilds, etc have all be

I think the point of copyright is that this is the system that came into effect from the chaos that previously existed. Patronage, trade guilds, etc have all been tried. The world eventually settled on government enforced temporary monopolies in the form of copyright. Now, we can argue that the temporary monopoly is too long now, but to suggest that we go back to square one is silly. Why throw away hundreds of years of progress on this issue?

jeffool 14y ago
We live in a vastly different, and still rapidly changing, world now. You see hundreds of years of progress, I see hundreds of years of overgrowth that's just not relevant. I think patronage and reorganization of artistic groups is coming inherently. The only question is will we decide to stick them, and ourselves, with laws made for completely different technology. Copyright in the US started at what, 14, 21 years? I forget offhand. Then you had to write a book, sell all rights to a publisher, deliver it to the publisher by horse then train then horse, have them print it, deliver it to sales people by train then wagon then horse, who delivered them to purchasers by train or wagon or horse. And throw some boats in there. That was plenty enough copyright, our founders said. Other nations did not heavily disagree in copyright length. After that time, the work should go to the public good. Remember, the public good is the only reason for copyright; to entice people to create for the public domain. Today? You finish a work, upload it, and it's available for purchase from you, the creator. Nothing created in your lifetime will lapse into the public domain naturally. This is not progress. This is perversion.