Gene Expression

On IP

I'm channeling the ghost-of-Joel here (from an href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/03/arts/music/03COPY.html">article in the NY
TIMES):

The industry association is trying to persuade European Union countries to extend copyright terms.
Meanwhile, Mr. Turkewitz said, "we will try to get these products blocked," arguing that customs agents
"have the authority to seize these European recordings even in the absence of an injunction brought by the
copyright owners."

The RIAA tries to use righteous interpretations of the "law" when it favors them, and attempts to change
the law (or erect a customs barrier) when it doesn't. I understand that this is their bread & butter-so of
course they'll fight for it, but they should drop the schtick about principle and just admit that it's a dog-eat-
dog Darwinian fight for survival against the odds of history (we all go extinct at some point).

Posted by razib at January 3, 2003 04:25 PM | TrackBack | Email this article