Leave it to the states (American)
That's the way it is now, but it has created an economic disequilibrium.
In the late 90s every Chinese graduate student I met was amazed that we could still buy VHS tapes here. None of them had seen any since they were children.
I have a DVD from Bangladesh of
The Incredibles that was purchased new, within a month of its release in the civilized world, and the only times I've ever watched that movie was from that DVD.
My son has discovered a slovakian website on which we can watch new movies at no cost. Within a week of the release of Disney's
Inside Out, we were watching it for free on the big LCD TV in my living room. We have seen many movies from that website, which I won't mention here because I question its legitimacy.
Each nation decides whether to enforce, or even to recognize, intellectual property laws. I suggest that the producers of these films need compensation. Just as the producers of a new anti-malarial drug need compensation, or the producers of new exoskeletal robotics need compensation. After all,
The Incredibles wouldn't even exist if capitalism didn't exist. Those Bengali children may not have enough rice to eat, but they have some very entertaining videos, don't they? Similarly, you would like to be able to give out the latest anti-HIV drug to all infected Africans who don't have a pot to piss in, but who would like to live another month, but unless companies who produce these drugs are guaranteed a legal profit, they will have little incentive to produce them.
I guess I'm for attempting to come to some international agreements. It may mean that I have to wait a year to watch
Frozen or
Home for free on FX, or pay the nine dollars or whatever theaters are charging these days, but this is not an unreasonable position.
Intellectual property rights provide a financial incentive for the creation of an investment in intellectual property, and, in case of patents, pay associated research and development costs. Unless societies protect such rights, the major part of the motivation for scientific and artistic achievement will cease to exist. We can impugn capitalism all we want, and extoll the virtues of collectivism, but in order to maintain a progressive state of science and arts, which leads to economic growth, I think it is important to guarantee the intellectual property of its owners.
That's my two cents.
Crabcake, are you referring to a specific bill or are you asking a general question?
