Quote:
Originally Posted by Harmon
As to your first question, I think it's certainly a matter for discussion. Keeping something off the market for a while can be part of a marketing plan. On the other hand, the purpose of copyright is not necessarily to allow the copyright owner to squeeze out his or her maximum profit, else there would be no "fair use." The purpose is to encourage the production of creative work, and to reward those who create it. If something is not made available to the public, it seems to me to be outside the purpose of copyright. My personal view is "use it or lose it." (But there may be no practical way to reach that result.)
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But, with the very greatest respect, neither is the purpose of copyright to force everything that is written to be published. I have the absolute right to write material and choose not to have it published - at least until 70 years after my death, when it becomes public property. I would personally not wish to see that changed.