On Tue, 9 Jul 2002, Smitty wrote:
> No ethical copyright owner should have a problem with someone making a copy
> of such a work for their personal use. After all, the Fair Use doctrine is
Ethical? This may need to move to -politics ; any future
posting be me on this thread will. Smitty: I am shocked to
see a 'parlour pink; Libertarian, to mix metaphors.
If a person as an individual takes to using my copyrighted
content, commercially or individually, beyond the scope of my
permission and license on such use, and not within a limited
scope of statutorily imposed 'Fair Use' or archival backup
right, I'll part their hair with an axe, or issue a demand
letter, depending on whether they are within my reach.
(Copyright in the US is now a wholly statutory matter, without
material remaining pre-1787 common law antecedent, but encased
with judicial petty-fogging and construction)
The owner of a piece of property, real or personal, tangible
or intangible, has an absolute right to do with it as he will
-- even to waste it, to lock it away, or destroy the same --
within the scope of not violating governmentally imposed
strictures on its use.
If not, Freedom is over, and the Collectivists have won.
If you take a person's property without their consent, it is
theft. It is just as wrong when a business owner copies a
bootleg copy of a Microsoft product, as it would be when a
child burns a CD with downloaded copyrighted rap music.
In the story attributed to W.C. Fields:
"Madam, would you sleep with me for a million dollars?"
She mulls it over and says, "Yes, I think I would." The man
counters, "Would you sleep with me for ten dollars?"
Indignant, she asks, "What do you think I am?" His reply: "I
think we've already established that. We're merely haggling
over the price."
-- Russ Herrold
---------------start disclaimer-------------------
I_A_AL, but not your lawyer. I offer legal advice and formal
opinion only within the confines of a previously established
and explicit attorney-client relationship where privilege may
be had; and NEVER on a public list server.
----------------end disclaimer ------------------
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