Copyright

[Stuart Moulthrop]

With great respect and sympathy for Steven Weisenburger, I have to side
against him in the copyright debate.

Copyright _as we know it_ is a corrupt, unworkable, and perverse
institution that serves the rights of publishers, not authors.  The same
can be said for the publishing industry _as we know it_ (though fortunately
it is doomed).  Good, reasonable alternatives exist for both publishing and
copyright, but so far there seems little interest in these alternatives,
particularly among intellectuals.  If you doubt this, have a look at the
latest _Lingua Franca_, whose cover story is all about "repossessing"
electronic media for the Book.

I assume those of us who flout copyright restrictions do so knowingly in
deliberate protest.  Prof. Weisenburger is right to say that no one should
break the law idly or in ignorance.  I don't agree, though, that we should
treat the present copyright law as sacrosanct.  Certain books I've read
have taught me otherwise.

 -- Stuart Moulthrop