As part of the Bush administration’s continued efforts to destroy the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution they have taken the position that the federal government has the power to copyright “public domain” works. In other words, they feel that the government has the right to restore the copyright of works whose copyrights have lapsed. As works now take almost 100 years to revert to the public domain this is clearly a benefit to vast, undying corporations who would seek to own everything.
There may be a day when every work of science, art, and culture is owned by an undemocratic corporate entity. Think about it, who does copyright benefit? If you violate the copyright of a work I have produced on my own what then? Do I have the resources to police for infringement? Do I have lawyers I can throw at you? Obviously not. Copyrights and patents, as they stand today, are largely used to transfer the benefits of creativity and invention from individuals to large institutions (in most cases corporations). All culture and progress has been created by individual people. Corporations do not make music, or art. They do not invent things. Certainly, they fund research for new technology but instead of creating a benefit to humanity they create a revenue stream.
This is a power grab by business. Not content with physical resources they have moved to accumulating ideas and all aspects of our culture. I think it is possible that we may head toward a future resembling a Philip K. Dick novel where you will be monitored for what sort of calls you make or what sort of television programs you watch and where you will own nothing. While I do think this is a leap from the idea of copyright law I think it is important to be vigilant about how ideas are commodified.
There are inherent dangers in violating a law regardless of how wrong it is. However, I think people should push the limits of fair use and copyright. This means reinvigorating old ways of doing things. Lend your books, music, and movies to your friends. Make people copies of things if you’re willing. It would also be helpful if more people rejected consumerism as a habitual way of life. Think about how you’re spending your money and where it ends up. Reject the encroachment of advertising. Deface public advertising. Send back credit card applications in the postage paid envelopes. Use your imagination.