Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
Cost of enforcement of copyright? Paid for out of those property taxes....
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Right now, there is virtually no enforcement of book copyrights. By contrast, a big chunk of my home property taxes go to pay for township police, prosecutors, and the county jail in which a substantial number of small-time burglars and shoplifters are locked up. Are you suggesting that book copyright holder pay the government to defend intellectual property the way it defends the physical property of rate-payers?
I would rather keep the enforcement at a low level and mostly in the hands of copyright holders themselves, who are free to sue pirates, with losers paying court costs. Governmental action against pirates should exist, but be minimal, and attempt to self-finance through fines -- no jail.
It would only be fair to charge a copyright property tax if the police are going to protect intellectual property the way they protect physical property. And that would be too extreme.