Court nixes lawsuit fighting copyright law

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Article about patents, but pertains here, too

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/maney/2004-11-23-maney_x.htm

The problem with copyrights and patents is that in so many cases, there is no money to be made off the material EXCEPT IN LAWSUITS.

If someone patents an idea twenty years ago, but never makes use of that patent, should that person be allowed to sue because someone else came up with the same idea (common-sense usage)? Yet, there are people suing all the time over a piece of paper they had sitting in a bottom drawer. Apparently, the idea was so obvious that someone else came up with the same idea and capitalized on it.

Same with copyrights. A book written 80 years ago that only exists in one or two research libraries should not be allowed to be locked away from the public. Although I am currently in the computer field, I have a degree in History. Many of the books I used to finish my work were such books that had to requested, mailed and handled with white gloves in order to use. Would not digitizing those books make better sense?

There are also literally thousands of older movies melting away in studio vaults because there are arguments over who owns the rights. There was a famous actor who made it his business to fight for restoration. He got arrested by the FBI for legitimately purchasing some of those films and having them restored out of his own pocket because he maintained a library of those films in his home and shared them FREELY.

There comes a time when the public's right to information HAS to be considered more important than one individual's ability to squeeze a few more pennies out of the material. That is how our Founding Fathers saw it and I personally see no reason to keep giving the corportations more and more power to withhold ideas.

Posted by: AbsolutelyNot   Posted on: 11/26/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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