Charmed Seattle 2003Creative diversity is a big thing with me and we seem to be narrowing its possibilities under the guise of "protection."
We are born to mimic, that is how we learn. So where is the line? What is really "original?" Ideas come from somewhere and we are influenced constantly, so again, where is the line?
Once upon a time, copyrights were to protect the artists, the creative person who wrote, drew or designed something. The original law (Statute of Anne) to protect authors was written in Britain in 1710. In 1975 US copyrights "died" 50 years after the death of the originator of the work
In 1975 corporate copyrights lasted 75 years. In 1998 the Copyright Extension Act or
Mickey Mouse Protection Act added 20 years to the "ownership."
"The Act extended these terms to life of the author plus 70 years and for works of corporate authorship to 120 years after creation or 95 years after publication, whichever endpoint is earlier.[1] Copyright protection for works published prior to January 1, 1978, was increased by 20 years to a total of 95 years from their publication date." Wikipedia
Now that corporations are in charge, they have forced governments to change the laws to suit their agendas. Copyright law was changed when Disney wanted to keep Mickey under their thumbs.
As corporations can outlive humans our laws get rewritten to accommodate their needs. This allows corporations to control creativity. When profit rules thinking, what thoughts perish? When you consider humans natural learning mode, inspiration, building on prior ideas so as not to have to re-invent the wheel - ...hmmmm.
PS my article in Green Wiki was used in an eco fashion article in the Philipines, would've liked a credit but knowing it was reaching a wider audience, made it sit well in the over alls.
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