Klarinet Archive - Posting 000146.txt from 2010/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sheet music copyright
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:21:42 -0400

At 08:14 AM 7/8/2010, you wrote:
>On 07/08/2010 05:01 AM, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> > And this is EXACTLY why copyright law exists. Man discovered that
> > protecting the originator of the idea and allowing him to profit
> > therefrom was the best way to insure future innovation. He thus
> > needed to be protected through the law from others stealing the idea
> > without remuneration. It works for me.
>
>"The sole interest of the United States and the primary object in
>conferring the [copyright] monopoly lie in the general benefits derived
>by the public from the labors of the authors. It is said that reward to
>the author or artist serves to induce release to the public of the
>products of his creative genius" (US Supreme Court, 1984).
>
>... but note the caveat: "It is said that ..." The point being that you
>need to confirm that this is true on a regular basis, not just make the
>assumption. Each time new technology arises, it shifts the balance of
>incentives and opportunities (before the printing press, nobody even saw
>any need for a copyright!) and you need to re-assess whether the
>existing protections and existing fair use permissions should be realigned.
>
>I don't expect you to agree with me about _how_ they should be
>realigned, but we might find common ground on the idea that the effect
>of copyright law on innovation needs to be investigated and reassessed
>on a regular basis.

The last revision did seem to go a bit overboard on the length of
protection. But I am not convinced that the ease of copying, and
particularly file-sharing, is a reasonable driver for the change,
unless a wholesale revision of the methods of financial remuneration
for the artist is undertaken simultaneously. I do not plan to hold
my breath waiting for such changes to take place.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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