Why Games Should Be In the Public Domain

Robotron23 writes "Rock, Paper, Shotgun writer John Walker shook a hornet's nest by suggesting old videogames should enter the public domain during GOG's Time Machine sale. George Broussard of Duke Nukem fame took to Twitter, saying the author should be fired. In response to these comments RPS commissioned an editorial arguing why games and other media should enter the public domain much more rapidly than at present. 'I would no more steal a car than I would tolerate a company telling me that they had the exclusive rights to the idea of cars themselves.' says Walker, paraphrasing a notorious anti-piracy ad (video). 'However, there are things I'm very happy to "steal," like knowledge, inspiration, or good ideas...It was until incredibly recently that amongst such things as knowledge, inspiration and good ideas were the likes of literature and music.'"

Comments

As a max time limit before entering public domain

[korbulon]

I suggest using a time unit of one "dukeNukeEm", which is approximately 15 years.

Re:Picasso

[contrapunctus]

"Good artists borrow. Great artists steal."

me

I understand Broussard

[Kinwolf]

I understand Geroge Broussard being againt this; If games would fall in public domain after X time passed, Duke Nukem Forever would have actually entered public domain before ever being published.

Re:Picasso

[Nyder]

...

Why? Why the hell should that be the case? If I pour loads of MY time and MY effort and MY resources into creating something, then it's MY creation and I want to keep it then I can, because it's MINE.

Sorry, but it just boils my p**s that everyone these days just thinks they have a God*-given right for unfettered access to anything they like for free,

* other deities may be available

^^^ This is what is wrong with people. Greed. MY MY MY MY MINE noticed the capitalized words are just missing PRECIOUS.