Copyright Issues in the Mainstream

dmayle writes "Recently, the Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled on a momentous topic, the Grokster case (as covered on Slashdot). It turns out, however, it's not just geeks who are taking notice, and we're not the only ones who think things are getting ridiculous. The Economist has a great story on the subject, noting among other things, that if the cost of publishing had come down with the internet, perhaps the amount of protection needed to encourage publishing is less as well." From the article: "Both the entertainment and technology industries have legitimate arguments. Media firms should be able to protect their copyrights. And without any copyright protection of digital content, they may be correct that new high quality content is likely to dry up (along with much of their business). Yet tech and electronics firms are also correct that holding back new technology, merely because it interferes with media firms' established business models, stifles innovation and is an unjustified restraint of commerce."

Re:They've got to feed their families, too.

[Anonymous Coward]

Surely you mean they broke in and shared your day's work, no?

Fight! Fight! Fight!

[millahtime]

Ah, corperate fights. Time to kick back and watch the corperate giants for innovation fight the corperate giants for media rights. If only it were mud wrestling or death match style.

Re:Status Quo

[mattbee]

This is an excellent article, and one that anybody with a brain could agree with. But it looks like the history behind this (the last 30 years or so) and the high-priced legal firms will do everything they can to keep the status quo.

Hmm, I don't know; they've been around for at least 30 years, but I always thought Status Quo's longevity was down to their catchy three chord tune structure and energetic live performance. While I'm in no way a fan, I'm not sure we need to push for laws against them.

Re:Cost of publishing or cost of creation

[sgant]

That is obviously true, but what about the mass psychology behind it?

pipingguy...you're just...you're just being glib. You haven't studied mass psychology, I have. Just take a vitamin and exercise.

Re:This Whole Struggle...

[Anonymous Coward]

But once you actually get her to go to one and she sees that the people are just normal everyday people like the ones you work with or are your neighbors

And that seems like a good thing, until you remember that the normal everyday people at work and in the neighborhood, are fat and balding and harsh.