undefined | Better HN

0 pointsPhiwise_2y ago0 comments

You have a deal with a copyright holder? Have you considered taking them to court over it? I'd donate to help get you what their contract owes you, and I'm sure others would, too.

0 comments

10 comments · 3 top-level

coldlight2y ago· 4 in thread

The deal that society has is that "we follow the law and they follow the law".

Not "we follow the law and they have it changed so that we have to do whatever they want".

pasiaj2y ago

The law is the will of ”we”. ”They” can’t change the law – only ”we” can.

zogrodea2y ago

I think this is one of those cases where representative democracy diverges from democracy proper.

I doubt most people (who lack a financial incentive, unlike some politicians) will incline towards copyright extensions for companies.

1 more reply

harimau7772y ago

Due to gerrymandering, the electoral college, weak campaign finance laws, etc. that's not the case in the United States.

1 more reply

concordDance2y ago

I'm not sure this is actually true anywhere but Switzerland.

1 more reply

buran772y ago· 2 in thread

You only have a very weak negotiating power and only during the election campaign while copyright holders have very, very strong negotiation power (money) all the time. So they can change the law whenever and however they want to. Your "contract" with the lawmakers can change at any time regardless of your (or the majority's) wishes, which on the face of it is extremely undemocratic. So the "take them to court" strategy is doomed to fail but people are still correct to point out how unethical and immoral this is.

In the same vein, piracy may be illegal but sometimes it just balances out this immorality and lack of ethics of copyright holders and lawmakers. If we follow the same reasoning, if a pirate is not taken to court then it wasn't illegal.

coliveira2y ago

This is exactly why "democracy" and "capitalism" are impossible to fully exist side by side. Capitalism rules necessarily destroy democracy because its basis is the accumulation of money and power by a few. On the other hand, perfect democracy will give people the power to remove the money privilege of the few through taxes and policies (the founding founders already knew this). The idea that we have democracy in a capitalist system is the peak of stupidity, because people are deceiving themselves about being free, when in fact they're just doing the bidding of the super rich.

ohdannyboy2y ago

So capitalism in practice compared to a perfect democracy where the powerful few handle their power without becoming corrupt? Well obviously the theoretical system wins here, but it sidesteps the biggest problem that people do not handle power well.

ckolkey2y ago· 1 in thread

I believe op is referring to the deal between the copyright holder and the public - the public grants exclusive use of the content to encourage creativity, in exchange, the work will eventually become public. In extending the duration a work is protected, the deal is being modified.

Phiwise_OP2y ago

And I was referring to OP having no such deal.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments