[cc-community] Critique a short essay on Free music?

drew Roberts zotz at 100jamz.com
Wed Nov 7 22:56:47 EST 2007


On Wednesday 07 November 2007 20:24:16 Terry Hancock wrote:
> drew Roberts wrote:
> > How many copyleft supporters would prefer no copyright laws to the
> > current state of affairs - especially in the absence of copyleft
> > licensing?
>
> Not many when it comes to software, I would think.

I think you ignored the "especially in the absence of copyleft licensing?"

Now while Igenerally agree with y\what you have to say, I think it might still 
be worth it just to see jail time for copyright violators out of the game.
>
> The source code provision requirement in the GPL relies on copyleft,
> which in turn relies on copyright to work. Without any copyright,
> software authors would routinely withhold source code as a
> "technological protection measure" to effectively subvert the freedom of
> information supposed in a no-copyright regime.

Right. I too feel this way, although I have seen an argument made that we are 
wrong here. IIRC I think it went something like this:

With no copyright, no monopoly profits and no ability to lock up binariesand 
no ability to command monopoly pricing.

Hold back the code? All ti takes is one rewrite and all have it.
>
> Creative Commons licenses would similarly lose their ability to forbid
> TPM distribution, which condition exists for the same purpose -- to
> ensure that end users have full use and modification freedoms and
> abilities in the work.

Until the scheme is cracked or...
>
> So, not only does the GPL subvert copyright-based sequestering of
> knowledge, it uses copyright to subvert the sequestering of knowledge
> that would occur in a copyright-free society.

hey, I think it is an excellent hack myself.
>
> Free licenses keep work freer than it would be without copyright.
>
> Those of us who like this kind of freedom should therefore be thankful
> that there is some kind of copyright, though it is entirely consistent
> to wish for a more limited copyright law (in both extent and duration)
> which would cause the public domain to be richer (which of course, is
> supposed to be the whole point of copyright -- in the USA at least).

I am excpet for the jail time provisions, and the lack of a need to prove 
actual damages which allows people's lives to be wreaked financially when no 
actual damages have been proven.
>
> Cheers,
> Terry

all the best,

drew


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