The Copy(right) Problem

One of the most contentious issues of the digital world is the copyright problem. It's a battle being fought by so called "owners" and consumers of content. It's an enormous issue and I can't deal with every facet of the matter in a short post but I want to at least begin by pointing out the deal that is trying to be made essentially between the two sides to the problem.

In the distant past, before recording apparatus for music and film existed, entertainment was obtained by paid (in some form) access to performers of these arts. They made a living by selling their art and abilities. Consumers got entertainment and enjoyment by watching and listening to these live shows. Everyone appeared to get a fair outcome according to their means in this scenario.

With the introduction of recording apparatus the situation changes dramatically and suddenly the artist who previously had to perform each and every time to earn something could perform ONCE - and then claim that that performance belonged to them and could therefore sell it for reproduction as many times as they wished without ever moving to perform it ever again.

One performance - Infinite payment.

No one with any sense of fairness could ever believe that formula to be just. And yet that is exactly what so called copyright owners are asking everyone else to swallow.

On the other side of the coin consumers also seem to have their own version of an unfair formula being...

One payment - Infinite performance.

Those are the two sides of the problem that the ability to record and copy a single performance generates. An artist demands a free ride forever through one creation, one performance; and consumers by having the recording never having to worry about calling the artist ever again for another gig.

The problem continues for as long as the copy right, the right given to reproduce the work and sell it exists. I believe that the length of copyright is too long. Even the original creator should not have the right forevermore.

No amount of work deserves unending payment. It's simply not valid in the real world. The natural order of things is decay. Nothing lasts forever.

I believe that the copyright to something should expire within 5 years or at most ten so that all works after a reasonable amount of remuneration become public domain and enrich society and free us from this battle fought by avaricious companies engaging in rent seeking behaviour, against consumers.

That I believe is the only solution. Fairness demands it.