On 12/06/07, Andy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
By definition something that can be infinitely replicated is NOT a scarce resource.
I'm afraid that's not a tenable argument. You're thinking of the "resource" as the bits. In fact, the "scarce resource" is the creativity which made the first copy. So the only question that matters is "how do you reward creativity?" So - how, in your system when all media are free, do you reward creativity? Or do you believe that creativity is not worth monetary reward? Copyright exists to create a system of artificial scarcity, on the principle that creativity deserves reward as it's a major positive activity for society as a whole. Take away that system of artificial scarcity, and you'd better have a replacement that can do the job just as well. So please Andy- what's your replacement? Bare in mind that unless your replacement can substitute for the economic activity supported by copyright, you are going to reduce economic activity in general and thus make the world (literally) poorer.
