Quote:
Originally Posted by Sil_liS
Copyright only exists because it was considered to be for the greater good.
|
The earliest forms of copyright protected individual works as a favor by rulers for services rendered (or, in some cases, to protect the profits of those rulers from the sale of the books). The aspect "for the greater good" only came centuries later.
I must agree to some extent with Tubemonkey. Although unlimited copyright makes no sense, this general attitude "if it is good for society scr** the rights of the individual" is very disturbing. People should not be required to unilaterally and involuntarily make additional sacrifices for society over and above what everybody else has to. If they do so by their own free will, great. But by force?