[sinkspur]

You could make a good arguement that the various entertainment companies don't have any more respect for consumer rights than the "Napster" generation has for copyrights.

No I couldn't. Maybe you'd like to try because the guy who wrote this article failed miserably.

[BkBinder]

Posit that when I purchase a copy of intellectual property I have the right to maintain possesion of said property in its original condition (unlike a material object that suffers wear). I therefore should be able to create for my own use copies of that material provided I do not offer those copies to others for any reason.

Efforts by the entertainment industry, not to mention software producers, to prevent copying of material obviates this consumer right. Both industries are trying to transition to a point were the consumer is only leasing the intellectual property. They are also trying to extend the copyright into perpetuity, as in the case of Disney, which would be contrary to "...securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries."

That said, I do not purchase tapes, CD's, DVD's. I feel absolutely no need to encourage irresponsible corporate behavior that puts profit ahead of what I consider decency. Software I buy only when I must and I avoid as much as possible the companies that I consider rapacious.

I doubt that this is a convincing arguement for you. Indeed, it was not intended to be an arguement at all. I suspect that on the topic of theft of intellectual rights, you and I will agree on most points.