Comments on: Copyright, shmopyright

By: glen

glen — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 06:28:02 +0000

The reason copyright lasts for as long as it does is because the Disney corporation didn't want to lose exclusive control of Mickey Mouse. The mouse that ate the public domain

By: josh

josh — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:52:16 +0000

I don’t understand why copyright lasts longer than a patent – really, which is more useful to society, a song or the design of a pen? Why do songs get 70+ years of protection?

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 21:51:36 +0000

Foxtel IQ is legal because you’re paying to continue using it, and you’re paying someone who is presumably authorised to sell it. It’s not copying at all, really, because it’s just allowing you to watch a program again when you like, but only if you keep paying. If you stop paying your IQ no longer lets you watch recordings.

So it’s just like adjusting the TV schedule to suit yourself (which is what a proper video recorder or PVR allows, but the crucial difference is that those allow you to do it without pouring more money into the accounts of the TV companies).

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:56:00 +0000

So, in fact, using iTunes to rip music off a CD you purchased and dump that on your iPod is illegal in Australia?? That’s a whole lotta lawsuits just waiting to happen…

Re: Timeshifting video – similarlarly, Foxtel IQ – sold to us specifically for that purpose.

Well, it’s consistent at least – it’s still legal to sell toxic poisons specifically for human consumption (eg. cigarettes), even though it’s illegal to systematically poison someone unto death.

Oh well, time to illegally load some more CDs onto my iPod

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 22:46:51 +0000

Did you read the bit towards the end about the information sheet? They don’t even let you copy that!! You’re allowed to download and print ONE copy of it!