One for the pro-copyright people to think about

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

I don't think 'reading' necessarily rises to the level of 'performance' but, lets carry that to its logical conclusion: What about reading to your children?

Private performance.

Which, if copyright law doesn't get fixed soon, might have its own conflicts, especially if you *record* a reading to your kids for them to listen to when you're not home. Wouldn't want to allow those private audiobooks. (I expect this to come to a head when some help-a-soldier group contacts overseas soldiers and has them each record a 4-minute reading of one of their kids' favorite books.)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Sounds like legalised murder to me.

(my favourite pro-copyright quote of all time)
http://marcusblakeston.wordpress.com...galise-murder/

Y'all do realize we English speakers sometimes use figures of speech and hyperbole to make rhetorical points, right? People say "they're getting away with murder" all the time about all sorts of things that don't involve the unlawful taking of human life. Saying it doesn't mean they literally see the thing on the same level as murder.

Nor does the fact of the thing NOT being on the same level mean that it isn't wrong and worthy of corrective attention.

That is "at least I didn't kill someone" is not a valid defense for violating other laws.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Sounds like legalised murder to me.

(my favourite pro-copyright quote of all time)
http://marcusblakeston.wordpress.com...galise-murder/

I don't think it is fair to characterize either of these positions as representing the pro-copyright position. These are examples of people attempting to push the protections given by copyright too far. I'm in favor of copyright for limited times, but I reject the idea that libraries need permission to read to children, and as for thr streaming service, people already paid for the content, this is just delivering the content to the TV, no different than using a CD player or a DVD player, it is just using a different device.

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by ApK

Not public.

Similarly, showing a DVD movie to your kids on the big screen in your basement is not a public performance, but putting the big screen in a public library would be. Is this really a grey area? Seems rather black and white to me.

Want a grey area? How about a couple of kids on their lawn loudly playing a CD? Passerbys stop to listen. Public performance?

noted. Looked up the law and it appears, here at least, that this actually falls under...

title 17, chap 1, § 110 · Limitations on exclusive rights:
Exemption of certain performances and displays
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.pdf

but its a mess and I could be misinterpreting it.

[Barty]

What, I can't believe we (Americans) are letting ourselves be out-capitalisted by these European socialists!

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

noted. Looked up the law and it appears, here at least, that this actually falls under...

title 17, chap 1, § 110 · Limitations on exclusive rights:
Exemption of certain performances and displays
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.pdf

but its a mess and I could be misinterpreting it.

There is this exception: "performance of a nondramatic literary work, by or in the course of a transmission specifically designed for and primarily directed to blind or other handicapped persons who are unable to read normal printed material as a result of their handicap,"

Children too young to read could fall under this category.

Or this exception: "performance or display of a work by instructors or pupils in the course of face-to-face teaching activities of a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction"

You could interpret the library as a place devoted to instruction.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

blind or other handicapped persons who are unable to read normal printed material as a result of their handicap,"
[. . .]
Children too young to read could fall under this category.

^ For the record, if this ever goes to a class action suit: "I'm not with him."

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by ApK

Y'all do realize we English speakers sometimes use figures of speech and hyperbole to make rhetorical points, right? People say "they're getting away with murder" all the time about all sorts of things that don't involve the unlawful taking of human life. Saying it doesn't mean they literally see the thing on the same level as murder.

Nor does the fact of the thing NOT being on the same level mean that it isn't wrong and worthy of corrective attention.

That is "at least I didn't kill someone" is not a valid defense for violating other laws.

Yeah but that one was about a legal service (at least in America). I'm probably violating some copyright by quoting it all the time, but it still amuses me no end.