Klarinet Archive - Posting 000035.txt from 2003/01

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Royalties - was Peter and the Wolf
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 11:20:26 -0500

On Fri, 3 Jan 2003, Jeremy A Schiffer wrote:

> On Fri, 3 Jan 2003 LeliaLoban@-----.com wrote:
>
> > However, I'd like for the artistic community to reconsider
> > whether the present length of copyright really serves the best interests of
> > society.
>
> Hopefully, now, with the Internet and
> self-publishing, newer works will be widely distributed without
> restrictive copyright (much like the free software movement in the
> computer world).

Promotion is separate from distribution. Without active promotion,
distribution is moot (ask any self-publisher ...). Banding together for
promotion might be a more productive idea. Perhaps the members of the
Musician's Union could propose such a thing - it might even attract more
people to the union, and one of the things unions are good for (or are
supposed to be good for) is lobbying government in support of their
members.

As to "restrictive copyrights" - the copyright exists on all published and
unpublished works, irregardless of what you do. What I believe you really
mean is simpler or less restrictive licensing - owning the copyright
allows you to license and control your material. You can even choose to
put no restrictions on your material (as long as you also have a "day job"
...).

mark C.

---------------------------------------------------------------------