Quote:
Originally Posted by bill_mchale
...You referenced the baker. Yes, it would be wrong for me to steal bread from him; no one however would complain if I watched how he made bread, and then made my own bread in an identical fashion. In other words, copying his bread is perfectly legal. If we applied the same standards to books, it might be illegal to steal copies of books, but it would be perfectly legal to make your own copies and sell them.
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Or if the replicator from Star Trek were a reality: If I make an exact copy of his loaf of bread but he still has his original loaf then nothing was stolen. If I attempt to sell my replicator versions of the bread, then the baker has a valid complaint. If I keep the bread within my own home then it is beyond the scope of the baker (or anyone else) to decide whether I have committed any crimes or broken any laws. This is what seems to be lost on so many. A limited copyright (like 10 years) is okay with me but it does not extend to the walls of my home unless it can be proven I am selling the item for profit...