Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
However, intellectual property CAN be stolen in the U.S., and when you make unauthorized copies of an e-book, you are stealing intellectual property. U.S. law makes it clear that IP needs to be protected, specifically because of people who feel that others do not deserve due compensation for their ideas simply because they are not physical objects, and rob them of "potential sales." (Smart guys, those Founding Fathers.)
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This isn't true. In fact, the Founding Fathers don't recognize copyright as a natural or inalienable right. They acknowledge, in the creation of copyright law, that they are granting (natural and inalienable rights can not be granted by the Constitution) a temporary monopoly (that would not have otherwise existed) to the creators. They're doing this for a single purpose - to encourage them to add to the public domain of knowledge, rather than keeping their inventions and works secret.
It's really fascinating to read the letters and documents behind the creation of this section of the constitution -Jefferson was reluctant to even add the monopoly, but Madison convinced him. They originally planned to limit it to 14 years, but later decided that, as infrastructure became better and people could more easily sell their ideas throughout the colonies, Congress might want to
shorten that term - so they didn't put in any defined limits. Now, of course, copyright stretches for over 70 years.
Here's an interesting link on the history of copyright law in the US, and the Founding Fathers' thoughts on the matter:
http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/lis.../msg07721.html