UK Consumer Watchdog Says Copyright Law Is Outdated
from the indeed dept
This is more or less stating the obvious to most folks around here, but UK consumer rights advocates, Consumer Focus, has put out a report pointing out that copyright law is obsolete and confusing to most consumers, leading many of them to infringe on copyrights frequently without even realizing it. This, the group notes, is a problem that should lead the government to fix copyright law by adapting it to the times. Of course, the UK seems to be going in the opposite direction these days with the Digital Economy Bill.... Still, it's nice to see more consumer groups realizing how outdated copyright law is these days.
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Filed Under: consumers, copyright law, uk
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Re:
Yep, copyright is about: 90% control and 10% everything else.
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Reform or die.
I can't talk for everyone but one thing that happens with me is that, all this talk about having a problem and having to have more strict laws have turned me down. I just can't enjoy music or videos without thinking how the other side is so "evil" and I just stopped buying anything. I can't I don't view those people as human caring people.
Even when P2P drops, they are still losing costumers in droves which makes me think I'm not alone.
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3id9638d8420146d3c01bf6bdb523c3311
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Re: Reform or die.
Yes - and every time a famous musician/author/artist (latest-Terry Pratchett) pops up in the media supporting copyright extension/enforcement they just get crossed off my list of possible purchases. Seeing as so many ordinary people seem to think the same way one wonders what foolishness possesses them to do it.
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Re: Re: Reform or die.
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the sky is blue
(except when its gray)
also grass is green
(except when its not)
and the RIAA are a bunch of low life scummy two faced own parent pimping bestiality and incest loving bastards
(ok, that last part was said by me not the consumer watchdogs.)
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copyright is nt ownership
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Re: copyright is nt ownership
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Re: Re: copyright is nt ownership
Though I'm curious to know what country you're in that allows such transactions.
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Re: Re: copyright is nt ownership
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So everyone knows the law is stupid, unenforcible and ignored, so that's OK.
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I work in a library
One of the most annoying things is, that often you are not allowed to store information which isn't available anywhere to be purchased anyway - so it is just data that is lost to the world.
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Re: I work in a library
That's because the law requires citizens to be psychic. Or one can call an authorized/qualified psychic like Miss Cleo and if the psychic is wrong you can then sue the psychic.
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I want... Shorter Copyrights, TM the same, Patents rare
I think /MOST/ things should be covered by copyright, as long as they are not public works or work paid for by the public.
Patents should be an extreme rarity and independent invention should disprove that it was worthy of patent (or that the terms were so outrageous cleanroom development of the same idea made sense).
Trade marks should probably be about as they are now in the US; a branding/logo enforcement for consumer protection. A possible exception would be a two-class system, one for 'Well known' brands and another for 'local' brands (You'd want to register in to the well known, but it'd cost more).
Back to copyrights: Even LIFETIME is insane, lifetime + 70 years is some kind of broken handout. Copyrights are about encouraging the production of /useful/ information. In todays far faster paced world if you haven't made your money in 10 years you're probably doing it wrong. Past that decade it should become part of public domain culture so that the future can be built instead of the past enshrined in tombs no one may enter within their lifetimes.
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Re: I want... Shorter Copyrights, TM the same, Patents rare
Harry Potter is a successful book series, but what would allow the author to be recognized and paid when the movies are made? The copyrights would likely have been sat on and then the movies made; what would have worked however would be the /trade mark/ on 'Harry Potter'. A similar movie could still have been made, but it wouldn't have been able to use the same name, nor receive the fan support as part of the same author's works. It would have been better for the studio and author to reach an amicable agreement that is mutually beneficial than to skirt around the trade mark.
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