On Mon, 2007-02-12 at 18:03 -0600, Mike McCarty wrote: > Miles Fidelman wrote: >> Mike McCarty wrote: >> >>> BTW, where in the Constitution of these USA does it state that >>> Copyright must be limited? >> >> Well, this is getting WAY off topic, but... >> >> Article I, Section 8. >> >> The actual language in the constitution states that "The Congress >> shall have the power to ... promote the Progress of Science and >> useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors >> the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;" >> Note the word "limited." > > Yes, that is an adjective modifying the noun "Times", not "exclusive > Right". Are you saying that Bono argued for making copyright eternal? > Do you have a cite?
>From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono_Copyright_Term_Extension_Act : "In addition to Disney (whose extensive lobbying efforts inspired the nickname 'The Mickey Mouse Protection Act'), California congresswoman Mary Bono (Sonny Bono's widow and Congressional successor) and the estate of composer George Gershwin supported the act. Mary Bono, speaking on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, said: "Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. . . . As you know, there is also [Motion Picture Association of America president] Jack Valenti's proposal for the term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress. [1]" That's not exactly Sonny Bono arguing that copyright should be eternal, but it is a pretty clear indication of his belief that it should be. At least Ms. Bono acknowledged that it would violate the Constitution, but it's a shame we elect Congresscritters who have to be "informed" by their staff about what the Constitution says. One would hope they would have read it themselves. (BTW, the cite is to the Congressional Record ... you can check the Wikipedia entry and follow the link provided if you want to read her testimony.) (Sorry Mike, I didn't mean to send you an email off-list.) -- Michael M. ++ Portland, OR ++ USA "No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream." --S. Jackson -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
