[d@DCC] Need feedback on idea: If copyright infringement is "theft", then what is adoption?

[Russell McOrmond]

Mark Jenkins wrote:
>>"If copyright infringement is theft, then so is making an identical
>>copy of your sandwich and eating it."
> 
> 
> In the age of quick and easy object copying, we're going to have to
> regulate it, or there will no longer be an incentive for chefs and car
> designers. Their sandwiches and cars will be immediately ripped off and
> copied widely.
> 
> I've conversed with with people who take this position when I bring up
> the analogy of information copying and object copying.

   The amount of regulation should be looked at from an economic and 
public policy perspective.  The desire to have an emotional response to 
those who claim the "theft is theft" emotion is to remind those people 
that too much copyright harms the incentive (economic policy) just as 
much (or more) than too little copyright would.

I often say it this way: copyright is to creativity like water is to 
humans; too little and you dehydrate and die, too much and you drown and 
die.

   Once they understand this basic fact, we can then move onward to 
alert them that we are already drowning and encouraging governments to 
throw water on drowning people is obviously not going to help.

-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  2066+ Canadians oppose Bill C-60 which protects antiquated Recording,
  Motion Picture and "software manufacturing" industries from change...
  http://KillBillC60.ca    Sign--> http://digital-copyright.ca/petition/