[Fwd: Re: Jefferson and information]

["Elaine P. Whelan" <epwhelan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Jefferson and information
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 17:23:59 -0500
From: "Elaine P. Whelan" <epwhelan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: jesposito@xxxxxxxxxxxx
CC: digital-copyrights@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
References: 
<5E97CE2DFA48BB4CA2DAA847F1A6E4BD575517@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



Hello Joseph...My research into Jefferson's views found that although he 
was originally against copyrights (then called monopolies), he came to 
the conclusion that a balance was needed so that creative works and 
inventions for the benefit of society would continue.   This developed 
in his correspondences with James Madison when the U.S. Constitution was 
being written.  My book on our landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision 
(Whelan v. Jaslow) on the use of copyrights to protect computer software 
covers this.  If you would like to have a complimentary copy, send a 
mailing address.   It can also be found at the Copyrights Promote 
Creativity Project's website www.promotecopyrights.com and at 
amazon.com.   It's title is My Mom's Making History--The Story of 
Computer Software, Copyrights and Creativity.    

The purpose of our project is to develop education for students (and 
 hopefully adults) on the history and purpose of copyrights.   We are 
glad to know someone  understands the concepts and is willing to speak 
out.     Elaine P. Whelan      

jesposito wrote:

>Regarding the recent posting of a URL which leads to a Web site that
>purports to summarize Jefferson's view of intellectual property, it is
>probably useful to say, for the umpteenth time, that ideas cannot be
>copyrighted.  Copyright only reaches to the tangible expression of
>ideas.  The notion that copyright interferes with the free flow of ideas
>is a little bit like saying that seat belts interfere with the free flow
>of traffic.  There is much that is bad about copyright law (current and
>proposed), but preventing the free flow of ideas is not among them.
>
>Joseph J. Esposito
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>You are subscribed as: epwhelan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To unsubscribe, go to: http://lists.umuc.edu/unsub.php/digital-copyright/epwhelan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>or e-mail: 
>
>
>
>  
>