ASCAP copyright hawks, worried about Lessig and friends, are planning a counterattack
Why do so many people hate Washington? Lobbyists, of course. Just when there’s hope for consumers, the greedsters step in and twist the arms of politicians keen on political donations. And to expedite the process, they seek to marginalize reformers like Larry Lessig.
The latest example involves ASCAP. From Digital Music News:
Performance rights organization (PRO) ASCAP is now pondering ways to defuse the influence of non-traditional copyright thinkers, according to correspondence shared Thursday with Digital Music News. According to an invitation mailed to certain members and executives, ASCAP is coordinating a luncheon on February 3rd to discuss a number of top issues. That includes “licensing and rate proceedings in the digital area,” “the new Congress,” and “working together to counter the growing prevalence of the ‘copy left/free culture’ pontificators in the public discourse about creators rights.”
That appears to be a thinly-veiled reference to Lawrence Lessig, though others—including Gerd Leonhard [link added]—could also be targets…
The opposite threat: I’ve always favored a balanced approached and am equally dismayed when free-culture advocates attack everything about copyright. A little moderation would help weaken the arguments of the ASCAP fanatics.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:52 am
I’ve got nothing against lobbyists; I hate that politicians have so much power that it makes lobbying worthwhile.
As for moderating our fight against copyright – I don’t think someone should give up or conceal their views just because they are unpopular. If you feel, like I do, that a legally granted monopoly on ideas and knowledge is immoral, then nothing but the complete abolition of copyright is acceptable.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Thanks for your opinions, Robbie, but I myself have plenty against lobbyists as a group. Good-guy lobbyists exist, but the majority are sleazes. Look beyond copyright laws to other issues such as the massive, few-strings-attached giveaways to Wall Street. Guess who encouraged politicians to act as Robin Hoods in reverse?
As for for the right to hold unpopular views–yes, I support that. But not the massive and sustained use of money to buy votes that go against the commonweal.
Well, I call ‘em as I see ‘em, and in this case, I’d certainly agree with the lobbyists on the desirability of copyright as a creative incentive. I just think they want to overdo it.
Thanks,
David
January 25th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
David – Lessig and others do not attack everything about copyright. I don’t know if you’ve read “Free Culture” or “The Public Domain” etc, but they make for extremely depressing reading. Yet these high profile “pontificators” make it clear that they support copyright for the purposes it was originally intended.
The argument is that the current system of copyright has been subverted by the very few who already benefit from the system, and at huge cost (which is never quantified) to society. It is not about removing rights to creators to benefit from their work.
January 25th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hi, RJH. I don’t say that Larry Lessig did, but certain others in the free-culture movement do or at least come very close. I can recall talking at length to one who looked askance at royalties, which I like as a model. I want different options to be open to creators, just so we’re not in Gouge Land.
I’m a big believer in CC for writers who want it. In fact, the TeleBlog uses a CC license! CC has a bunch of license options per LL’s wishes. Yes, I’ve read Free Culture and pointed others to it.
I totally agree with your second graph. I’m appalled by Bono as well as by Hollywood’s hatred of fair use.
Thanks,
David