Comments on: UK wants $82,000 for ‘online IP offenses’ http://www.p2pnet.net/story/23462 p2pnet.net - reader powered Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:08:48 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Crosbie Fitch http://www.p2pnet.net/story/23462/comment-page-1#comment-976613 Crosbie Fitch Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:52:18 +0000 http://www.p2pnet.net/?p=23462#comment-976613 The more dangerous it is for the public to handle copyright works the less they will. In other words, soon the term 'copyright' will become a kiss of obscurity for any independent artist's work. This means that works are already polarising into two groups: a) works only safe to watch at a distance, at a cinema, on TV, or hear on a radio (as long as no camcorder or other recorder is present), b) works safe to keep in one's personal collection, share with one's friends, and build upon and publish. The second group is soon going to dwarf the first group. Before long copyright works will go the way of lead paint, prohibited from the presence of children, banned from the home and workplace without special permit, and considered hazardous material for use only in extreme cases, e.g. by the military. If it isn't copyleft, share alike, CC0, or otherwise stipulated as safe for handling by the public then don't touch it with a barge pole. Until copyright is abolished we're going to have to be extremely careful to treat copyright works for the toxic waste they are. The more dangerous it is for the public to handle copyright works the less they will. In other words, soon the term ‘copyright’ will become a kiss of obscurity for any independent artist’s work. This means that works are already polarising into two groups: a) works only safe to watch at a distance, at a cinema, on TV, or hear on a radio (as long as no camcorder or other recorder is present), b) works safe to keep in one’s personal collection, share with one’s friends, and build upon and publish. The second group is soon going to dwarf the first group. Before long copyright works will go the way of lead paint, prohibited from the presence of children, banned from the home and workplace without special permit, and considered hazardous material for use only in extreme cases, e.g. by the military.

If it isn’t copyleft, share alike, CC0, or otherwise stipulated as safe for handling by the public then don’t touch it with a barge pole. Until copyright is abolished we’re going to have to be extremely careful to treat copyright works for the toxic waste they are.

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