Book People Archive

RE: redeeming copyright

More and more, it seems that our individualistic, rights-oriented
society is viewing intellectual property as a natural right. There
does seem to be a good argument about certain rights to the fruit 
of one's labor.

Nevertheless, that notion is not in the constitution, nor has it
ever been a part of US law. The constitution clearly gives exclusive
rights to the author for a limited time for the good of society.

"The Congress shall have Power To . . . promote the Progress of 
Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors
and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
Discoveries . . ."  -- US Constitution, Article I, Section 8

Any claim to personal property that belongs to the author by natural
right is opinion contrary to law.

That said, I fear the view below has effectively become the law
under the rule of the DMCA.  Who cares about copyright terms and
fair use when you can copy-protect your intellectual property and
it's illegal to break the copy protection scheme?

-whp

> -----Original Message-----
> From: talewins [mailto:talewins@[redacted]
> Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 11:33 PM
> To: spok+bookpeople@[redacted]
> Subject: [BP] redeeming copyright
> 
> 
> Even well diggers at the North Pole get paid.  Writers should too.
> Personal property?  You bet it is.  There's more sweat equity in writing 
> than any other line of work. 
> Check out my site
> http://www.talewins.com/Permission.htm for a different perspective on 
> this matter.
> 
> Lin Stone.