Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparrow
I'm just wondering if you'd think someone who brought a Van Gogh painting at auction would be entitled to destroy it if they wished?
I think maybe you'd say they were, but perhaps I've misunderstood.
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If someone purchased a Van Gogh, they would be entitled to destroy it if they chose. They would be nuttier than a pecan orchard to do so but it would be their legal right. Would it be ethical? That's a whole 'nuther argument that could go either way.
Now if Van Gogh himself decided to destroy the painting becasue he felt it was inferior to his normal standards or didn't want to glut the market with his paintings, thus driving up the prices, he would be entitled to do so, not matter what anyone else thought. An author has the same legal and ethical right to do the same for the same reasons (or because s/he regretted the content and does not want it disiminated). A publisher has the legal right to do so if it owns the rights to a book but it would not be ethical to do so unless it was the author's intent. There's no easy answer.