POF 12-6  But can we not then make the old a measure for the new? Is not every man compelled to measure the products of his moral imagination by the standard of traditional moral doctrines? For something that should reveal itself as morally productive, this would be just as absurd as to want to measure a new form in nature by an old one and say that, because reptiles do not conform to the proto-amniotes, they are an unjustifiable (pathological) form.

Copyright is an important issue today for maintaining a free internet. Many are measuring copyright morality of the past with the new morality suited for todays world. I had someone contact me last year claiming I was an immoral anthroposophist for posting their art online. I have a right to post anything online according to US law and my own morality. If someone objects it is taken down. The speed that is required online makes it impossible to get permissions. It was different when you were involved with the slow process of hard copy books. You also can't remove something from a book like you can from a website. Here is the legal Fair Use Notice on the About page of this website.

Fair Use Notice
The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of scientific, environmental, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for research and educational purposes.

Arguements opposed to copyright

Historically, copyright originated only in the last few centuries. Creativity flourished well before copyright existed.

• While technically most copyright laws applied to individuals making copies, it was only the advent of the personal computer that made it possible for individuals to copy significant amounts of information. Some argue that this new ability calls for a fundamental change to, or the abolition of copyright.
• The European Renaissance saw a burgeoning of intellectual talent, the like of which has not been seen since. It occurred before the existence of copyrights, and was spurred by artists copying each other's techniques and works without legal restriction.
•  Making the developer dependent on a system that requires enforcement by force directly ties them to large corporate entities which are able to carry out this enforcement, but may at the same time limit creative output to that which is compatible with corporate ideology.
• The ease and convenience of being able to obtain and preserve many intellectual works across the Internet, it is argued, will lead to greater development if copyright law is abolished.
• It is possible for creators to earn income, independent of copyright, by incorporating advertising into their works.

If I read PoF aright, and I entertain several doubts that I do, is it not anachronistic to claim ownership for the products of thinking?

The financial business seems to be another sphere, and I do not feel competent to organise the rights of it.