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Old 06-30-2009, 06:37 PM   #18
LiquidHAL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma View Post
Thats his opinion, and while we all might disagree with it, he has definitely earned the right to distribute his books as he see fit.
I disagree. The original purpose of copyright is "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

Until 1906 copyright lasted 14 years from publication plus an optional 14 year renewal. Through lobbyists and healthy campaign contributions, large corporations have pushed legislation through congress to effectively never have their copyrights expire. Fahrenheit 451, for example, would be in the public domain by now if each successive copyright extension hadn't been retroactive. This perverts the original intent of copyright. It hinders progress rather than promoting it. Bradbury has even attempted to use copyright to alter new works that reference his own. His books have been influential enough to become a part of our culture, and new generations must be allowed to build on that without having to constantly worry about stepping on toes.
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