Re: Paul Krugman holds forth on the future of publishing

>>> There is another alternative to "they must find a way." It's that  
>>> they
>>> won't find a way and that the intellectual property will just go  
>>> away.
>>> It will never be created in the first place. People who otherwise
>>> would have written great books will flip burgers or go into  
>>> investment
>>> banking. They will be tired and sapped of creativity at the end of  
>>> the
>>> day and they will never write because they have lives and families  
>>> and
>>> like to eat and have shelter just like the consuming public.
>
> I'm not sure this is necessarily a bad thing. We probably have a lot
> more authors writing today than we need. A little social Darwinism  
> might
> be just the ticket.

Perhaps. But The problem is, it's not just the hacks who won't be  
writing. It may be the next Mark Twain.

> In 1908 the term of copyright was a maximum of 42
> years after publication (one 28 year initial term plus one 14 year
> extension upon application), yet this appalling short term didn't seem
> to keep Samuel Clemens from creating an impressive body of work. And  
> it
> wasn't until 1831 that "widows and children of authors" were allowed  
> to
> file an application for renewal. (Prior to 1831 the term of copyright
> was a maximum of 28 years -- a 14 year initial term and one 14 year
> extension).

Well, I'm with you on current copyright terms being obscene. My  
objections are well known, so I won't repeat them.

> I seem to recall reading in the 80's a science fiction author  
> explaining
> why he wrote. He said that for him writing was like a bowel  
> movement. It
> was not necessarily an enjoyable experience, but he couldn't not do  
> it.

I didn't say it wouldn't be torture not to write, only that people who  
might otherwise persevere will more likely quit. Because "making it"  
won't mean being able to wave that first four figure check under the  
nose of whatever family member doesn't appreciate the creative process.

> The era of copyright is less than 300 years old, and the era of modern
> copyright is less than 150 years old. Making authors adapt to changing
> conditions may make things hard for individual authors who are not
> particularly flexible, but I doubt it will have much impact on society
> as a whole.


I guess we'll see in another 100 years (I'll probably be alive, maybe  
still writing).

dej

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