The End of History (Books)

TODAY, Apple’s iPad goes on sale, and many see this as a Gutenberg moment, with digital multimedia moving one step closer toward replacing old-fashioned books.

This is an appeal to reconsider the DMCA. The digital millennium copyright act is yet another souvenir of the shrub and 14 years of GOP dominance. I expect it to be struck down. It should rather be replaced. Creators have the right to be paid for their work. The open source system depends on their already having been paid. The creators do not expect to be paid again but insist that the credits stay with the work and that others not receive payment for work that is not their own. The business of immortal corporations holding the rights of long deceased creators really must end. Fair use was a very reasonable doctrine struck down in a fit of idiocy.

We really must appoint some rational judges.