As I pointed out recently, IP rights such as copyright and patent in effect grant the holder the right to control the property and bodies of other people. The Internet is becoming an essential tool for the spread of knowledge and information. So it is not surprising that copyright is hampering individuals’ ability to do this. This NY Times article, One Internet, Many Copyright Laws shows how copyright law can lead to confusion and bullying tactics by states and copyright holders that discourage the publication of books and other materials on the Internet. It demonstrates how the US is pressuring other states, such as Australia, to adopt ever longer copyright terms to prevent works still copyrighted in the US from falling into the public domain in other countries.
A copyright term of 70 years past the author’s death is simply ridiculous. At the very least, the term should be shorter and in case of any doubt (difficulty in finding the copyright holder of older, out of print works to ask permission to reprint), reprint permission should be presumed.
10:41 am on November 8, 2004
