Feb 4 2012: I think Larry Lessing has it entirely wrong. First, owners of work product have a right to their works. His example about air space does not apply. (and maybe the Supreme Court got it wrong... do we legislate because the laws are inconvenient for the prosperity of some over others? Did the farmers get the shaft because they couldn't buy as much influence as the airlines of the day?) Larry is wrong because people today do not have a right to my work just because technology makes it easy to steal it. And profit is not an issue. Let me ask you: If someone stole your car just to go joy riding would you not file a police report because they didn't intend to make a profit from reselling your car? Copyright laws need to remain on the books. Artists/owners of artistic and intellectual work product should be protected by law. However, the government should not be the policemen of the internet deciding whom to prosecute. They should merely enforce the contracts between parties and adjudicate copyright claims. Whether to seek civil or criminal prosecution should remain at the discretion of the owner.
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A comment on Conversation: So how DO we balance the need for creative people to get paid for their work with the ideals of a creative, sharing culture?