Re:So... (Score 1)

"Our current copyright system is very, very bad at doing this. That's all." On this, I agree. "If I can't produce generic HIV drugs or get access to a medical textbook or get access to news stories that might inform my participation in a democracy because the information embodied in those works is ruled to be the property of someone else, then that information is being withheld from me, right?" For me, the question is, does society have a right to FREE access to that information. That completely depends on your view of how societies should operate. I think if a private group has to pay to research and develop something, they should recieve 'fair' compensation, even if the thing they produce is of universal value to society as a whole. The reasoning being that if such a thing was so valuable to society, the societies governments should pay for it, and not rely so much on private groups to do so. In this way, certain things (imo) like medicine, should be developed by the government and be public domain for the common good. Music however, which I believe isnt something necessary for the sustenance of life, should not be free :-)