I lost an argument about copyright protection on the Internet the other night. I lost the same argument a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I lose this argument every time I have it. Most recently, to a Washington lawyer at a semi-friendly business dinner. I said that we’ve always been allowed to make copies of music and books: Yes, but, the lawyer said, the Internet lets one copy serve thousands of people. I said, the record companies rip off the artists who only get a buck or two out of the 15 to 20 we pay. Yesbut, says the lawyer, that’s the contract they signed and you don’t have the right to deprive them of those few dollars. I said, photocopiers are used to violate copyright all the time, and we’re not talking about disabling them. Yesbut digital technology gives us a way of protecting intellectual property and we have no excuse not to use it.
…The very thing the most conservative among us have dreamt of, have died for since the founding of this country, is now within our grasp: free markets, free speech, worldwide. And we’re blowing it because some dinosaur companies insist on maintaining their grip on every last dollar before their industry dies.
Read the rest in in this great David Weinberger piece. It’s maybe a draft, but it rocks.
I noticed that the price of a CD is still close to $20 – since the early 90’s, while ticket sales are nearing ridiculous… Hmm.. I’d better close my windows so my neighbors don’t infrige on their “intellectual property.” Since most musicians are always inspired by others, is it really “theirs” to protect? As a musician, I find it hard to equate dollars for songs… I would put my stuff out there for free, to pack the seats at my world tour… “I’m just a dreamer…”
Steve? That you? There are plenty of people out here who agree with you and some who advocate a “tip jar” system to get some flow the musician’s way. That’s not a bad idea imho. I like it.
But I still believe in copyrights. In reasonable copyright protection. What’s happened the last hundred years is a steady increase in time and breadth that copyrights hold and I think that’s where the majority of problems creep in.
But as to claims that copying hurts sales? The data is real inconclusive yet. Studies have gone either way so I don’t think people know for sure.
It was copying tapes that got Metallica to where they were (so damn ironic).