Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparrow
In the nineteenth century, American publishers were some of the biggest literary 'pirates' in the world - and lobbied their government NOT to recognise international copyright.
Now, of course, they're all in favour of enforcing international copyright.
It isn't their morals that have changed; it's their self-interest.
|
Exactly the opposite... they are just as interested in their own profits as they ever were. The difference between then and now is, they can no longer control the supply or limit easy duplication of their works as they once could... others can now take what they once took, and cut them out. So, instead of selfishly lording it over the literary world and the consumer, they have moved to the moral "high ground" and are now helplessly pleading to the government to enforce copyright laws and save them.
As I've said, publishers can serve a purpose in promoting an artist. But it's hard to excuse years of monopolistic and domineering behavior, even as they tried to do good, and so they are left with little sympathy in the market.