> At 09:20 AM 12/5/03 -0500, Roman Turovsky wrote: >>>> If you feel they do not, strive to >>>> change them through proper channels in favor of breaking them. I don't >>>> believe allowing the production and sale of lute tablatures is quite >>>> enough to justify a label of tyranny. >> Production is not questioned here, but rather an attempt to monopolize PD >> material by repackaging it. > There are many publishers. Some charge more than less. Some are supported by grants from the Ministry of Culture, in the lucky countries that have such entities.
> None hold a > monopoly on PD lute tablatures. Certainly. It's just that some local vested interests are trying to trick us into limiting our liberty to share PD material, in favor of having us pay for their versions of the same. > As I understand it, if a publisher does > risk reproduction of a facsimile, repackage it, and sell it, I can xerox a > friend's bought copy it and use it in the US if I don't reproduce > introductory text, cover art...anything that may be > copyrighted. Personally, I don't do this because I believe I should > not. I do it > > >> IT IS VERY SIMPLE: In order to publish a classic novel one has no obligation >> or necessity to pay a single penny to the library or an individual that >> holds the manuscript. PERIOD. >> Lute tabulatures are no different. > I don't think this is in doubt. By definition, public domain material is > not protected by copyright. If anybody lays hands to the material, he/she > can disseminate it at will assuming he/she hasn't willingly agreed to > legally binding restrictions in obtaining the material. If I own a rare > and beautiful thing, I have the right to restrict access to it, to share it > with friends and hide it from local street toughs, etc. In general, I'm > pretty liberal about sharing my scant stash of music and ephemera with the > world at large. Unlike many of the world's libraries, I am fortunate that > my sustained existence doesn't depend upon such things. I have been pretty > successful in accessing public collections without exorbitant fees...but I > have done so to satiate my own curiosity, not with the intent to > publish...and, I must say, I am a rather charming character. You also have some academic credentials. My wife thinks I'm extremely charming, but my access to the goodies has not been that smooth, with the exception of NYPL. > I understand > your argument; I am just a little more sympathetic to the institutions that > protect the physical manifestations of this material to the benefit of > future users and, when faced with ever-diminishing public funds, must > survive to the benefit of all. I support these institutions too, as long as they don't cross into gentrification of knowledge. RT ______________ Roman M. Turovsky http://turovsky.org http://polyhymnion.org
