We have repeatedly discussed the absurdity of U.S. copyright laws and how law firms have become virtual thug patrols threatening average citizens with ruin over small copyright violations. President Obama has been repeatedly criticized for being in the pocket of “copyright hawks” and lobbyists who have used the Administration to increase the penalties and scope of these laws. The Congress has also been a virtual extension of industry groups and lobbyists in the area. For that reason, many people were shocked when Rep. Jim Jordan published a critical report entitled RSC Policy Brief: Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it.” It was a strong condemnation of how these laws are not stifling creativity and various industries. It was the first such report anyone could remember that was not written by lobbyists for draconian copyright laws. Then it was gone. Gone. According to various sites, the eight page document was removed from the website. Some sites opined that the various industry groups saw it and quashed it — but not before some sites like the one below copied it.
If it is true that lobbyists stomped on the document, it is a remarkable public demonstration (again) of the control exercised over Congress, which made the mistake of speaking without industry approval.
By the way, the first myth is “The purpose of copyright is to compensate the creator of the content.”
Here is the report on one site where it has not mysteriously disappeared.
Source: Brought Turner
AH, yes, but if we change our current law to anything less than life plus 50, we violate the Berne Convention, and become a rogue nation.
At that point, everyone else in the world can steal everything we invent, write, sing, or perform WITH IMPUNITY.
That’s a MASSIVELY STUPID thing to overlook if you’re in Congress and writing such a paper.
I mean, I get that the writer of this article, and the commenters, aren’t in the business of understanding this law and the deeper implications of changing it, but the writer of that paper should be very embarrassed!
THE BIGGEST EARNER the US has in international trade is our IP (patents, trademarked goods, and copyrighted works).
Think we have troubles with the Chinese government hacking into our companies? Think we have problems with fake drugs, fake goods, and pirated movies and books being pressed in other countries? Just wait to see what happens if we try this one — and everyone else is able to LEGALLY steal everything we create in this country.
it’s a nice post
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