[wizzler]

I do not believe it was the intent of the Founders or the accepted knowledge at the time that you have unlimited control over your art-form even after it is completed.

Well, then, I've got good news for you: You don't have to rely on "belief" on this point. Stuff is actually spelled out in real documents, there for you to see and actually KNOW.

The aspects you're describing -- plagiarism, alterations of attribution -- are covered by a part of copyright often referred to in law as "moral rights."

However, the essence of copyright pivots on a single point: The copyright holder -- who is not always the original creator -- has the exclusive right to copy and distribute the work. You don't have to have profitted from distribution, or committed fraud, to have violated copyright.

No one is saying P2P technology should be illegal, or that copyright holders should have control over it. They're simply saying that copyrighted material cannot be copied and distributed without authorization of the copyright holder.

It's all so very simple.

[Old Professer]

The guillotine was extraordinarially simple as well.

[Lafayette]

Actually the problem is, as always, the Congress of the United States doing whatever the hell it wants. The Constitution grants the Congress the right to protect the works of authors and inventors for a "Limited time." Bought off by the likes of Disney (Mickey Mouse), Congress has progressively increased the duration of the protection until it is no longer "Limited." Stupid Bastards! Orwell was right. The pigs will take over, and you're obviously one of them. [I hardly ever flame, but I'll make an exception since you are so blatantly biased.]