Copywrite is Destined to Fail

Since the beginning, people have created stories. These stories were told for the good of people who heard them; to teach a lesson. Stories were told to children, friends, and relatives. They in turn told them to others. All that we know, all that we have achieve, can be traced back to this initial sharing of information.

Copywrite, in its many forms, has been a common motif throughout history. Religion once gained supreme power over man by teaching that only those who can read the word of the divine can interpret its meaning. Religion became very wealthy through the exploitation of this power: extracting tithes from peasants and extorting indulgence money from misguided believers. Religion influenced goverments, waged wars, and persecuted innocent people in the name of protecting God's (their) word.

Science would soon come under fire for exposing the unstable foundation upon which Religions power was built. Lucky for us, Science was built upon the sharing of knowledge. With the invention and widespread use of movable type Religion would lose its monopoly over how people thought about the divine and world around them.

As Religion fell from power something needed to fill the gap. Science wasn't quite ready for the challenge, but Business found its niche. Business by then had the resources to fund Science, control goverment, and influence the populace. In the 20th century, the creation of the Corporation would make its power absolute. Business would become self-aware.

Business realized that knowledge, in its simplest form, could be considered a commodity. It used its influence over goverment to create Copywrite and Patent law under the guise that it would protect the individual. In reality these laws primary focus was keeping the power of knowledge in the hands of the few.

Today, Science is once again providing us with the means to move forward and share information freely. To work with our fellow man rather then against. It's just a matter of time before Business has to adapt to these changes or be left behind.