Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonkchapman
They may have done more to spread it, but the Statute of Anne first gave authors ownership of their own works in Britain. Prior to that, the only avenue to publication was to sell all rights the printing monopoly. Everything afterward built on the premise that the creator held rights in the created work.
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I completely agree that a definite, law-enshrined ownership of works by their authors is very important, the problem is in balancing it with the needs of society. After all books are not written in a vacuum, but they are based on a common heritage.
I really am curious how things will play out, but I think that there will be a middle ground muddling through and books will continue to be written, music will continue to be composed and so on, while the famous nightmare drm scenario used by EFF to show where we are headed if DCMA?? (put your favorite Hollywood bought law in place) passes will be avoided too (forgot the link but it makes entertaining reading a la 1984 if you like such)