Re: Asimov Site

["**** ****" <***@***.com>]

>You have an unproven assumption here. That it is wrong. It is right.


Unproven assumptions can be either correct or incorrect. They can be
intelligent, or stupid. But they are neither morally wrong nor morally
right.

You go on to contend that the right to property, specifically intellectual
property, is a fundamental human right (I like this term, in that even if
the Constitution is wrong, there can be a fundamental right).

I have to agree, that there is a fundamental human right, to both more
traditional property, and intellectual property. There is no denying this.
My point is that the laws of the US, and as far as that goes, the world, are
particularly bad at balancing a person's IP rights, with the rights of the
public. Do not mistake my argument for abolishment of copyrights and
patents. I want them to be more reasonable, not to cease. No, that isn't
exactly correct...

I want those who hold copyrights to act more like adults, less like
barbarians. I want them to realize that it doesn't have to be 100% or 0%.
They seem to have a siege mentality, where if they don't wipe out all
piracy, they will be bankrupt in 3 months. This simply isn't true. That
attitude threatens every fair use principle there is, and in many cases
equates to zero economic gain.

Should I prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law, if just once you
happen to walk across my lawn? Criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit
robbery, wow... there might be dozens of laws technically appropriate. And
if for some reason I hated you, and I had the $$$ that a big corp does, I
could twist legislatures to strengthen the penalties on those crimes. Of
course, with me, I'd be more likely to wave 'hi'.

Be honest. How much of this is due to corporate lawyers with little work,
wanting to prove to the bosses they are needed?


John