To whom...,
I've always thought that the focus on copyrights by leftists is
misguided. Microsoft's code is not so valuable. After all, there is code
out there that will do most of the things Microsoft's will do as well or
better. What is valuable is Microsoft's access to capital. Microsoft is
the crowned, midas-touched brand in the software industry. It derives its
advantage, not through the quality of uniqueness of its code, but the fact
that Microsoft as a brand attracts the fealty of the rest of the rest of
the capitalist class.
Microsoft gets access to money and deals that other software
companies don't. That's their advantage. If anything, copyright
protects other software developers from Microsoft. Of course, owning the
rights to DOS and Windows is a tremendous advantage. However any argument
about copyright has to deal with the fact that there are other operating
systems out there that will run well on Intel chips.
As for music and entertainment, let's consider those. Are
American movies really better than movies from other countries? Actually,
they are, but not because of copyright protection. American movie houses
have access to money and deals that get them hot talents, excellent
equipment and the access to media companies to promote those assets.
Someone mentioned LeAnn Rimes. Let's consider that example. She is a
big star in Country music with a terrific voice and good stage
personality. If she decides to do a song (not to be mean, but, especially
a Country song) it's clear that her talent and reputation can make the
song a hit as much or more than the songwriter did. So how do you define
the economic claim that a songwriter has to the millions Leann Rimes makes
on a hit single? If not for copyright, what claim could the songwriter
assert? Rimes has a vast reputation and star power. She could certainly
argue that it was she, and not the song, that made the hit - especially
given the fact that her people arrange and produce the song. There has to
be some definite basis for a songwriter to make a claim in case of a
conflict. You can't simply assume, as so many socialists do, that
everyone will be on the same team.
peace
