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Shortening Copyright After Eldred Loss
SataiCam writes "Marci Hamilton has an article over at Findlaw.com covering potential options for getting a shorter copyright after the Eldred loss (or, more likely, keep this one from growing again). Clearly such a movement is an uphill battle, Hamilton does nothing to argue against that, but the options are there. It's an interesting read with some good points and a tone of "if you want it, go out and fight for it." I don't necessarily agree with all she says, but that's not surprising, she is using an AOL e-mail address, after all."
I think I've been reading too much about this stuff lately, but I have a hard time believing that the US Government would do anything that so explicitly hurts corporations without providing overwhelming benefit to citizens. It's clear that privacy is important to people, but copyright isn't a huge deal in everyday life.
I guess I just don't have the energy to help reinstate a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people" because it would have to be done from without, not within. Don't allow politicians to accept donations from anyone/thing that doesn't have a right to vote. The barriers of entry to this system, like so many other things, prevent really new ideas from coming into it.
Those who don't know me, probably shouldn't trust me. Those that do know me, DEFINITELY shouldn't trust me.
"He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me." Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Issac McPherson
jefferson idea candle taper
The submitter uses a hotmail address, and yet feels as though they can discount someones opinion by pointing out that they use AOL for email? Thats pretty lame, why not voice your disagreement by countering the authors points with your own.
Elitism sucks, especially when its directed from sources who don't have much room to talk.
Marci A. Hamilton is the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Her other columns on copyright and constitutional law can be found in the archive of her columns on this website. Her email is hamilton02@aol.com.
Well, it looks to me like she has a bit more authority on which to discuss legal issues than either the poster or timothy (whoever ended with the snide comment). Perhaps she travels, so got AOL. Perhaps she has many business contacts who have the address, so hasn't changed it.
In any event, her opinions on legal matters are more important than some random John Q. Dipshit such as yourself(ves).
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
IMO, an amendment should prevent retroactive changing of copyright lengths. If the point of copyright is to give people an incentive to publish, lengthening the time period after it has been published has no benefit, and shortening it afterwards seems like going back on a promise. Neither should be allowed.