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From: acmfiu@serss0.fiu.edu (ACMFIU)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: a2r&d v apple (purpose of a copyright)
Message-ID: <3387@kluge.fiu.edu>
Date: 23 Apr 91 04:52:06 GMT
Sender: news@kluge.fiu.edu
Organization: Florida International University, Miami
Lines: 13

In the United States, the Constitution says that the purpose of the
Copyright is to ``promote the progress of science and the useful arts.''
Conspicuously absent is any hint of intention to enrich copyright holders to
the detriment of the users of copyright works.

The Supreme Court made the reason for this absence explicit, stating in
Fox Film vs. Doyal that ``The sole interest of the United States and the
primary object in conferring the [copyright] monopoly lie in the general
benefits derived by the public from the labors of authors.''

[the above is courtesy the Leage for Programming Freedom]

albert