Assuming for a moment that authorities were able to handle the technical difficulties, so that the vast majority of internet users could be identified when they had done something - wouldn't it be possible to find out who was responsible for giving you virus, or fake AV software?

Since you posted as AC, you obviously like being able to be anonymous online. So do I. But when somebody else attacks me online (viruses, hacking attempts at sites I run etc.) it would actually be nice if there were not only laws, but also the real possibility of finding and punishing them.

I do not think I like this particular attempt of the EU's. And I am not trolling. But isn't internet still very much a wild west when it comes to law and order? In the real world, I would take a dependable, transparent justice system with equal rights for every citizen over "the law of the gun" any day. Is the internet different in this aspect?

I'm not saying anonymity is bad - far from it. But I am saying that accountability can also be a good thing.

Cheers. :-)

Why draw the line at something a person *physically* owns? Putting time, money and energy into creating a physical sculpture is OK and the sculpture (and the rights to it) should be inherited, but if you do the same with a book they should not? And what about software you wrote?

Perhaps assign a time limit to each creation, physical or otherwise. The rights to that creation could then be inherited.. or whatever you wish to do with them when you die. So long as there is a time limit, estate won't be a problem

Because you (most people, anyway) are paid each month for something they contribute each month. Writers etcetera perform the work up-front and are then paid when people buy their books. The comparison is flawed because the situations are very different.