Quote:
Originally Posted by bill_mchale
On the contrary, the issue of whether rights are something granted by the state or whether they are inherent in the human condition is a very basic issue in regards to ebooks and the internet in general. Your opinion seems to be that a right does not exist until the state recognizes it; mine is that a right exists until the state specifically limits it.
|
Exactly. The "philosophical issue" isn't relevant. From a legal perspective you are right. The government does not (and never has) grant rights. They only restrict them via laws. Everything is automatically a right unless the government says othewise. That's a fundamental premise in the way laws work. Unfortunately, there are people out there who believe otherwise and think that the government is in the business of telling them what they are allowed to do.