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European Copyrights Expire; RIAA Nervous
colmore writes "This article in today's New York Times (free reg. req.) discusses the expiration of European copyrights for recordings made in the 1950s. Now "bootleg" labels can legitimately print a lot of still-popular early rock, country, jazz, and classical albums. The good folks at the RIAA are trying to establish stricter customs controls. So does this mean cheap Elvis or a diluted pool of products?"
You are an ignorant fucktard. Bach didn't copy his symphonies from some other musician/composer and rearrange them himself, to his liking. He wrote them by learning the techniques of those before him.
Michaelaneglo didn't paint by numbers when he painted the Sistine Chapel. He learned the techniques of painting then expressed himself through this medium. While the concepts in teh Sistine Chapel might not be completely original, his work most certtainly was.
Thats the point of art, and by extension copyright. Copyright only protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself. If you want to write original pieces for the cello you are more than welcome to. If you want to take some of Yo-yo ma's cello work and rearrange it for yourself, you're going to have to go ask Yo-yo ma for permission.
This in no way lessens the works available to the public. To believe otherwise is ridiculous which is why I state again, no matter how famous Lawrence Lessig might be, he's a fucking moron if he thinks he's doing the public any favors.