Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Business Practices with Copyrights
Businesses never get any respect. From reading "MP3s Are Not the Devil" we can see that Orson Scott Card is frustrated with the choices and practices of businesses through copyrighting. Copyrighting is our method of giving back to the inventors of new thought processes or stories. The way Card complains about companies taking advantage of their customers sounds passionate, but also contradictory. He complains of copyright laws being taken advantage of by companies because artists sign contracts that give up their rights. This is a choice by the artist to give up their copyright for the risk that the company takes on by using it. The company risks losing money by using the artists art when they could turn a profit. He also complains about how companies treat their customers badly through copyright laws. Companies that treat their customers unfairly will lose their customers. Because companies turn a profit doesn't mean they are cheating their customers, it means they are doing the best job of serving them.
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Publishers and distributors are just middlemen. Card points out that American copyright was designed to protect the creator/artist and promote progress. Publishers and distributors use copyright laws to make money off a single product for a longer period of time (and yes, very little of that goes to the original copyright holder). Be careful you don't misjudge Card's intentions or judgements. He has some experience in this arena.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see someone arguing the other side. I don't agree, but that's exactly what I appreciate. It's just boring to be told what you already think!
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