European Intellectual Property Scholars: Copyright Extension Harms Innovation
from the good-for-them dept
Following the EU's misguided proposal to extend performance copyrights on songs from 50 years to 95 years, a group of professors from intellectual property, legal and innovation positions, have gotten together to send a highly critical letter, pointing out why such a copyright extension is not necessary and, in fact, will be quite harmful. Here's a snippet of the letter:Unanimously, the European centres for intellectual property research have opposed the proposal. The empirical evidence has been summarised succinctly in at least three studies: the Cambridge Study for the UK Gowers Review of 2006; a study conducted by the Amsterdam Institute for Information Law for the Commission itself (2006); and the Bournemouth University statement signed by 50 leading academics in June 2008.Hopefully, European politicians will actually pay attention to this condemnation of the proposed extension.
The simple truth is that copyright extension benefits most those who already hold rights. It benefits incumbent holders of major back-catalogues, be they record companies, ageing rock stars or, increasingly, artists' estates. It does nothing for innovation and creativity. The proposed Term Extension Directive undermines the credibility of the copyright system. It will further alienate a younger generation that, justifiably, fails to see a principled basis.
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Filed Under: copyright, copyright extension, eu, europe, innovation
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Campaign Finance Reform
1. Write in votes only. (on all elected officials)
2. No broadcast mediums only communication. (see how long it takes politician to figure out the difference then.)
3. No cash donations, only time and volunteerism.
This way your politician knows how much power the individual voter actually has, and if you have concerns they better address them. If the people you are representing don't know your name it will be alot harder to get in office, and if you don't answer their questions you will lose the only real campaigning left to you. (word of mouth)
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