This Essay Breaks the Law

NYT ^ | Published: March 19, 2006 | By MICHAEL CRICHTON

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I am not an attorney, as simply checking my page would have told you.

I did, but I consider anyone to be an attorney who believes that all wealth rightfully belongs to lawyers, which is what "intellectual property" abuse is all about.

Where would the world be if some ancient law firm had been allowed to collect royalties on the Pythagorean Theorem in perpetuity?

I deliberately said "in perpetuity" because every time Mickey Mouse is about to enter the public domain the length of copyright is extended by Congress. It won't be long before patent duration is indefinitely extended as well, because lawyers are good at buying the laws they need to feed their greed.

[Carry_Okie]

I did, but I consider anyone to be an attorney who believes that all wealth rightfully belongs to lawyers, which is what "intellectual property" abuse is all about.

Oh, I see. You would rather corporations could steal any idea they wish from an inventor. You would like to deprive inventors of capital. Wow, what a plan!

Where would the world be if some ancient law firm had been allowed to collect royalties on the Pythagorean Theorem in perpetuity?

Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

[LexBaird]

The Earth "orbits" or "circles" the Sun, at least in a heliocentric coordinate system. The Earth revolves around its spin axis, the line between the North and South poles.

If you are going to nitpick, the Earth does both. It revolves as it orbits.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

Amazing.

In the same sentence you say that a patent has never been granted in perpetuity AND defend the de facto perpetuity of the Mickey Mouse copyright by saying I just want to "steal."

Breathtaking. Truly breathtaking.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

So which is it? Are you against "in perpetuity" patents and copyrights, or are you for them? Or were you for them before you were against them?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

Your utter silence indicates that you are embarrased by the total lack of logic and ethics exhibited by your statement.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

So does this mean that you believe the copyright duration on Mickey Mouse should be extended to forever?

Copyrights should be in perpetuity?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

...Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

Why is it that you believe Mickey Mouse should never enter the public domain?

The original intent of copyright was to provide income to the creator during his lifetime.

Walt Disney died in 1966, forty years ago.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

...Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.

Why is it that you believe Mickey Mouse should never enter the public domain?

The original intent of copyright was to provide income to the creator during his lifetime.

Walt Disney died in 1966, forty years ago.

So which is it? Are you against "in perpetuity" patents and copyrights, or are you for them? Or were you for them before you were against them?