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A good, well-reasoned essay from the Times
<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-1657575,00.html> against
efforts in the UK to get the copyright term extended from 50 to 95 years.
Quotes a great many precedents for how new artistic works have arisen
precisely as derivatives from previous works, which would be forbidden by
extended copyright protection.

Some prescient arguments by Thomas Macaulay against a similar attempt over a
century and a half ago:

Many valuable works, he argued, would be suppressed — and publishers
treated with such contempt that the reading public would happily turn
to “piratical booksellers”.

Which is the sort of thing the RIAA and MPAA are complaining about right
now...

.... and an example of an industry which manages to thrive in spite of
rampant copying of competitors' designs: the fashion industry. Or does it
thrive _because_ of the rampant copying?

<http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061124-8283.html>

Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
> Some prescient arguments by Thomas Macaulay against a similar attempt over
> a century and a half ago:
> Many valuable works, he argued, would be suppressed — and publishers
> treated with such contempt that the reading public would happily turn
> to “piratical booksellers”.
> Which is the sort of thing the RIAA and MPAA are complaining about right
> now...
The Macaulay speech is a really interesting read, and raises valid issues
for current debates on copyright.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/4/25/1345/03329

Sadly, the UK government has shown it is subservient to the USA, so it will
be no surprise which way they will decide on this issue.


Peter

Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

> A good, well-reasoned essay from the Times
> <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-1657575,00.html> against
> efforts in the UK to get the copyright term extended from 50 to 95 years.
> Quotes a great many precedents for how new artistic works have arisen
> precisely as derivatives from previous works, which would be forbidden by
> extended copyright protection.
>
> Some prescient arguments by Thomas Macaulay against a similar attempt over
> a century and a half ago:
>
> Many valuable works, he argued, would be suppressed ? and publishers
> treated with such contempt that the reading public would happily turn
> to ?piratical booksellers?.
>
> Which is the sort of thing the RIAA and MPAA are complaining about right
> now...

Customers rule.....one way or another.

MPAA and RIAA take note.