Should Copyright of Academic Works Be Abolished?

Dr_Ken writes to mention recent coverage of a Harvard Cyber-Law study on Techdirt that analyzes the uses of copyright in the academic world. Some are claiming that the applications of copyright in academia are stifling and that we should perhaps go so far as to abolish copyright in the academic world entirely. "I've even heard of academics who had to redo pretty much the identical experiment because they couldn't even cite their own earlier results for fear of a copyright claim. It leads to wacky situations where academics either ignore the fact that the journals they published in hold the copyright on their work, or they're forced to jump through hoops to retain certain rights. That's bad for everyone."

Comments

Fuck you submitter and/or ScuttleMonkey

[clarkkent09]

Some are claiming

Can't wait to meet those Some! They seem to appear in every propaganda story about copyright on /.

I've even heard of academics who had to redo pretty much the identical experiment

Really?! Where did you hear of them? Overheard conversation on a bus? National Enquirer letters to the editor? Can't wait to find out!

That's bad for everyone.

Wow, thanks! I finally get it now!

From TFA: admittedly, I'm already a strong believer in the harm done by copyright in many instances

Impartial source too! This story really makes me excited! Let's overthrow those evil copyright laws right now. Rise up comrades, you've nothing to lose but your chains!!!