Why copyright is a bad fit for the internet age

x0x7@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 113 points –
Why copyright is a bad fit for the internet age
dallasnews.com
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Copyright is a classic case of "The few benefit at the expense of the many". Ideas, medicine, innovation, culture, these should all be shared as widely as possible as quickly as possible to all of humanity. Especially when we can copy those things for no production cost unlike the times of the printing press. But somebody realized they could paywall it and get rich instead.

Copyright is an antiquated idea whose time has come to arrive on the chopping block. Any politician who aims to curtail or abolish copyright gets my vote.

Yes, copyrights aren't that dissimilar to monopolies, and it's holding humanity back.

Instead of sharing 'the wealth' and let everyone build on it we keep finding ways to concentrate it.

Copyright is classified as a legally enforced monopoly. So are patents.

Personally I think both have been made overly long in duration and broad in scope. But without some exclusive period I can't see things like TV shows, movies, books, or games being made with even 1% of the current quality or quantity.

"Finally, my invention of the toilet paper holder is complete. And no, I will not share it with the world, I'll patient it. After all, I didn't do it for others, I did it for myself, even if all my needs are already met."