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From the private right to copy to the right to share

photo of Michel Bauwens

Michel Bauwens
17th November 2006


The BBC reports that a British think thank, The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is calling for a “private right to copy“.The article says that such recommendation “would decriminalise millions of Britons who break the law each year by copying their CDs onto music players.

Making copies of CDs and DVDs for personal use would have little impact on copyright holders”

But does such a recommendation go nearly far enough? Why, if we purchase a CD, offline and online, doesn’t the same rule apply as for physical objects, that we are free to use it at will, including to share it or to give it away? Why is it that a system that purports to be based on private property, does not want to respect it for immaterial goods?

 

What we need is a private right to share!

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