Smiers, Joost --- "The abolition of copyrights: better for artists, Third World countries and the public domain" [2002] ELECD 53; in Towse, Ruth (ed), "Copyright in the Cultural Industries" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2002)

Book Title: Copyright in the Cultural Industries

Editor(s): Towse, Ruth

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781840646610

Section: Chapter 8

Section Title: The abolition of copyrights: better for artists, Third World countries and the public domain

Author(s): Smiers, Joost

Number of pages: 21

Extract:

8. The abolition of copyrights: better for
artists, Third World countries and the
public domain
Joost Smiers

We would like artists, in rich and poor countries alike, to get fair remuneration
for their work. We usually think that copyrights are one of their most
important sources of income, notwithstanding the fact that we know better.
The reality, however, is that copyrights, commonly referred to on the
European continent as author's rights, are becoming one of the most important
commercial products of the twenty-first century. This phenomenon makes it
unlikely that the system of copyrights protects the interests of the majority of
musicians, composers, actors, dancers, writers, designers, visual artists or
filmmakers any longer. At any rate, the public domain is losing ground with
the ongoing privatization of the creative and intellectual commons.
There is urgent reason to try to find other ways of ensuring that artists can
make a living from their work. We should make sure that their creations and
performances truly get the respect they deserve. We must also realize that we
harm the social and cultural development of our societies when we continue to
neglect our public domain of knowledge and creativity.


8.1 THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY'S MOST
VALUABLE COMMODITY
Information and cultural conglomerates embrace the entire Earth with waves
and cables. These superhighways serve not only as vehicles for business data,
news and contracts, but also as carriers of entertainment, which is partly a
trade product in and of itself, as well ...