[carld]

Originally Posted by taosaur

First broadcast or publication would still have value. Certified authenticity would still have value. Prestige formats would still have value. Brand recognition, promotion and distribution networks would still have value.

What value would those things possibly have when every creative effort, save the physical arts like sculpture, can be instantly and legally transmitted to everyone who cares to download a copy? The market for prestige formats can't possibly be very large. It's not very large now, and I don't see it growing under the new no-copyright rules.

Brand recognition is only useful in the sale of items. Plus, do they really apply in a digital non-copyright world? Who cares what company originally produced the book, movie, or music you just downloaded? No one, that's who. Promotion is pointless unless you have a product to sell, which you don't, beside that costs money it doesn't generate money. And distribution will be carried out by torrent, legally, and quickly.

Originally Posted by taosaur

All of these things would have even greater value in a world where not only many copies but also many versions of a work became available as soon as it hits the net. I could re-write Stephen King's next book to replace the protagonist with Chuck Norris and the antagonist with Pedobear, or vice versa. Meanwhile Bantam (or whoever) has Steve saying, "This is the one I wrote, right here. But Pedobear...that's some funny shit."

You could, and you'd sell exactly zero copies. No one cares about your rewrite when they've got a perfectly legal copy of the original. And none of those things you list will have any value at all except the small market for prestige copies.

Originally Posted by taosaur

Artists, like machinists and mid-level managers, would be paid for producing their work, rather than seeing continuing income form work already produced. Celebrity authors would see additional income from the same sources as all celebrities: endorsements and appearances. Everyone at every level of creative industries would have to continually produce, add value, and innovate if they want to eat.

I think you're completely wrong about all that.