Re: The Right to Read
Deborah
searles@summerlands.com
Sun May 17 14:01:56 1998
OK... this looks like a good board to open up a can of worms on <WEG>*p*Playing devil's advocate for both sides here... I can see the need for the laws (or at least self-policing) because I've seen Searles' articles and things he has written show up time and again in places all over the web... not only without his permission, but without even his knowledge.  The only reason we know they are there is because we stumbled over them while surfing the web.  So, I can appreciate the position of the creative person who's stuff is being taken from their personal control and placed in public venues that they have no sayso about.  *p*However, I'd rather have our stuff quoted/reprinted (even without permission) providing that proper credit is given (or possibly a pointer back here to Summerlands) than to have somebody change up a few words (thereby getting around the direct quote/copyright violation) and pass our ideas off as their own.  At least this way, we're still getting some good out of our work.  The other way, we're totally out of the loop and dont even get the value of 'word of mouth' advertising.*p*The other side of the argument is that we are moving into an information age where information must be allowed to flow more freely than it has in the past.  I tend to look at things as 'if it's a matter of being able to go down to the store and buy the book, magazine etc', then yes, that is what we need to do... however, how many of us have access to all the papers around the world that might have articles in it that we need to know about?  If it hadnt' been for T2 reprinting this info, I would never have known about it (although, he could have gotten around the copyright thang by simply rephrasing). Or how about all those great 'ancient Irish texts' that are many centuries past their copyright, but might be snatched away from us by publishing houses trying to control every word in the world. (worse case scenario <G>). *p*Sometimes, I will post something out of someone's work.  I've got a post up on women's lodge right now on Sex and Marriage.  There is a large quote in it from _Sex and Marriage in Ancient Ireland_ by Patrick Powers.  I dont see anything wrong with posting it as long as the entire book isnt reprinted and proper credit for the piece is given.  Many times I'll include isbn numbers if I have them so that people can go out and buy the book if they like what they have read.*p*I guess what I'm asking is... where do we draw the line between free access of information in an informational age and copyright protection of an individual's creative property?  I cant say that I'm NEVER in support of some kind of government legislation... they do have their rare stellar moments ... however, I can say that I generally oppose any legislation by the government to stifle or control the people any more than minimally necessary for them to do what their charter provides for.. namely provide for the common defense, ensure domestic tranquility, etc.  I think this is comes under the heading of exceeding their authority by quite a bit.  Kinda like this Cybersitter/kiddie proofing of the internet BS that we've been looking at for months now.*p*On a much larger scale I see an all out dogfight for the heart, mind, body, and soul of the internet.  But they have to do it by small steps and inches.  Any major overt action people scream about, but if they can get this law passed here... let the furor die down... then get another little law passed somewhere else etc... the next thing you know the internet as we know it is gone.  So I guess the major question of the day is, "Where's the balance point? Is it going to be wide open or is it going to be tightly regulated" (for our own good of course...I mean really... you cant have all those people actually 'communicating' with each other.  They might compare notes and figure out what the heck we're up to up here and then the excrement really will interface with the air moving devices!  Good God... they might actually start - dare I speak it - thinking for themselves without us spinning what all they are allowed to hear and see <fainting now from the sheer terror of it all>) <G>*p*Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject.  Opinion anybody?*p*Deb
Re: The Right to Read
Debbie G.
32
Sun May 17 13:00:42 1998