Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
With the greatest respect, Ralph, you're on very shaky ground trying to use the ideas of 300 years ago to justify today's laws. For one thing, we live far longer: average life expectency in the early 18th century was under 40; today, in most western countries, it's in the mid 80s. For another, there were virtually no professional authors at that time; today, many people make a living writing, and by other "creative" activities. I can honestly see absolutely no rational justification for considering the "work" of writing a book to be trated differently from any other type of work, in terms of being able to pass on its benefits to one's family.
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The whole concept of "owned property" date back 5000 years+. Does that make it more "shaky"?
I can live with life + 25, but I consider it excessive. Let me ask another question. What about patent? If you believe in perpertual intellectual monopoly, shouldn't patent be treated equally? Until the early 1900's, it was. why does the world have no problem cutting off the "property" of an inventor after 20 years or so, but let's you keep your copyright for life + 70? If you think getting a patent is easier that a copyright, I strongly beg to differ.