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J. Strnad · 06-02-2010, 11:57 AM

Okay, I still don't understand what "to restrict copying is artificial" means. I don't understand your use of the word "artificial" here. Are you saying that it's part of our human nature to make copies of things? I don't want to discuss the point until I know what you're saying because I don't want to put words in your mouth. Can you expand on this, please?

We do "own" things that are not physical objects. These are exclusive rights, such as the right to publish and distribute a work, the right to adapt it to other media, etc. If someone does these things without authorization, it's infringement on your right, more akin to trespassing than to theft, more like being in someone's house if they don't want you there...you aren't taking away their right to be there, but you're infringing on their right to decide who can come in the door.

I see a lot of irrelevant arguments in this thread. Yeah, Marvel and DC have behaved like scum toward creators. That doesn't give the world the right to infringe on their rights. Yes, infringing might actually increase sales and profitability, but that's not the consumer's decision to make, it's the company's. And yes, infringement will always be with us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't oppose it. Mosquitoes will always be with us but we still swat the ones that annoy us the most.

But overall, I think publishers should just issue reasonably priced downloads of their books, encourage people to pay for the content if they want creators to continue creating it, swat the most egregious infringers, and not sweat the small stuff.

I think the point about copies is a reasonable one. I don't care how many copies of my stuff someone makes, how many devices they put it on, how many archive copies they make...copy away. I don't even much care if they give a copy to a friend or two. Books have always enjoyed a pass-around circulation.

If they start distributing these copies in mass quantities, for money or free, that's publishing and that's an infringement. Then it's up to me or my publisher to decide if it's worth smacking 'em down.

06-02-2010, 11:57 AM	#113
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Okay, I still don't understand what "to restrict copying is artificial" means. I don't understand your use of the word "artificial" here. Are you saying that it's part of our human nature to make copies of things? I don't want to discuss the point until I know what you're saying because I don't want to put words in your mouth. Can you expand on this, please? We do "own" things that are not physical objects. These are exclusive rights, such as the right to publish and distribute a work, the right to adapt it to other media, etc. If someone does these things without authorization, it's infringement on your right, more akin to trespassing than to theft, more like being in someone's house if they don't want you there...you aren't taking away their right to be there, but you're infringing on their right to decide who can come in the door. I see a lot of irrelevant arguments in this thread. Yeah, Marvel and DC have behaved like scum toward creators. That doesn't give the world the right to infringe on their rights. Yes, infringing might actually increase sales and profitability, but that's not the consumer's decision to make, it's the company's. And yes, infringement will always be with us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't oppose it. Mosquitoes will always be with us but we still swat the ones that annoy us the most. But overall, I think publishers should just issue reasonably priced downloads of their books, encourage people to pay for the content if they want creators to continue creating it, swat the most egregious infringers, and not sweat the small stuff. I think the point about copies is a reasonable one. I don't care how many copies of my stuff someone makes, how many devices they put it on, how many archive copies they make...copy away. I don't even much care if they give a copy to a friend or two. Books have always enjoyed a pass-around circulation. If they start distributing these copies in mass quantities, for money or free, that's publishing and that's an infringement. Then it's up to me or my publisher to decide if it's worth smacking 'em down.