Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggleton
Do you think that copyright can only exist when the technology for easy copying also exists? To put it another way, can an oral fiction be copyrighted?
I would be interested in links to your references, so that I may copy them onto my Kindle and read them later.
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My references refer to printed materials, not oral traditions. The Chinese had machine printed newspapers in the 8th century, already.
Magellan's assistant I was referring to was Antonio Pigafetta (and the copyright he received for the publication of his manuscript), I will look it up again and post some links later. My point being that even way back in the 16th century authors were concerned about unauthorized copying.
Unlike some of the other participants in the voyage he was not richly rewarded by the king and therefore asked for said special copyright -- nobody else was to be allowed to copy or publish his manuscript for 20 years.
But, of course, you are right. Today almost anyone has easy access to methods of copying books and especially ebooks. Just my conclusion is the exact opposite of yours. Because copying is so easy we need copyright more than ever.