Quote:
Originally Posted by tompe
But this is not a fact. It is not a natural law that every person should be able to sell whatever that person choose to sell and make money. You are motivating copyright from something that is totally different from the original motivation (which was a utilitarian motivation) and the fact is that many people (most?) do not agree with you fundamental beliefs here.
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There's a saying from the Bible: "...the workman is worthy of his hire." Writing a book is work, it's hard work, and those who do it deserve to be compensated for that work.
In Britain, which is from where US and Commonwealth copyright laws derive, the original purpose of copyright was to strike a balance between the right of the creator to control and profit from their creation and that of the public to have free and unfettered access to it to do with what they will. As far as I know, most other countries base their copyright laws on similar principles.
I personally think the bar has swung too far on the rights-holder's side and needs to be re-adjusted, particularly as regards to terms.
Having said that, the right of the writer to compensation for and control of their own work for the duration of the copyright term is vital. Without this right the entire publishing industry would cease to exist as we know it.
I'm a freelance writer and I make my living from copyright. Even work-for-hire is only possible because of copyright. Without copyright there would be no rights to sell.