Re: [dvd-discuss] [Off-topic] Eldred v. Ashcroft.

[microlenz(at)earthlink.net]

On 6 Aug 2002 at 23:20, Jeremy Erwin wrote:

Date sent:      	Tue, 6 Aug 2002 23:20:56 -0400
Subject:        	Re: [dvd-discuss] [Off-topic] Eldred v. Ashcroft.
From:           	Jeremy Erwin <jerwin@ponymail.com>
To:             	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
Send reply to:  	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu

> 
> On Tuesday, August 6, 2002, at 09:44  PM, microlenz@earthlink.net wrote:
> 
> > Check out the link there
> >
> > http://llr.lls.edu/
> >
> > Loyala is putting together a synmposium but one strikes my eye and 
> > offends it
> >
> > The Mythology Of The Public Domain:
> >     Exploring The Myths Behind Attacks On The
> >     Duration Of Copyright Protection
> >
> >     Scott M. Martin
> >
> It appears to be mostly a collection of ad hominum attacks, deriding the 
> ideas of those opposed to CTEA (and metastases) as myths. He even goes 
> so far as to helpfully define "myth" (using the intellectual property of 
> one Merriam Webster)-- ah, academic laziness.

Also the myths are just strawmen that he builds up and gleefully punches 
down...academic laziness....I'd use a stronger phrase "intellectual whoredom"

> 
> "Why creates something new if you can reprint or reuse something which 
> already exists? Why invest in untested new works if you can instead 
> distribute royalty-free existing works. The fact that creators of new 
> works cannot merely reuse the the expression contained in the 
> copyrighted work of others without permission forces them to be 
> creative.."
> 
> Such a pleasant view of the relationship of the state to its authors. 
> Lazy authorial scum. I'll get a decent days work out of you if I have to 
> take it out of your hide. Now create.
> 
> (The cynic might argue that the fact that the fact that public domain 
> works are freely available encourages rival publishers to distinguish 
> their editions with added material, more readable typefaces, or more 
> affordable prices. but alas, the cynic cowers in fear of being called a 
> mythologist.)
> Jeremy Erwing
>