Michael Geist @ Concordia, talk on “Why copyright”

The question is good, “Why Copyright?” If it’s only to fall prey to another type of enclosure (Facebook, Youtube, you name it) then I don’t think we’re doing a very good job. Like I said earlier, my new keyword is autonomy.

Copyright is supposed to be an incentive, a limited time monopoly offered to creators, to enable them to make more and better works available to the rest of us.

Pascal Charest, whom Patrick tells me was sitting just behind me but I never really met, had this rant about the comments:

“But this rant is not about Michael Geist or his presentation, which, again, was very good and will soon be available – it’s about pseudo-scholars plaguing this kind of conference. I’m sorry but I really can’t stand people asking 5 minutes question ending in “Am I right?” Especially when this question was a summary of the last 75 minutes presentation… Arggg. Please, getting a job offering public recognition of your mental skill is easy – very easy – don’t do that while other people are interested.” — Pascal Charest

I think two, maybe three questions were of that type but the rest (well, I had one question and offered a comment) made a lot of sense. Why are we only reacting, as Patrick asked. What about IsoHunt sueing CRIA?

I have to admit this particular presentation left me a little bit on my appetite. But I had great expectations, after reading all the fine analysis by Mr. Geist. I wish he can come back in 6 months, in a greater venue (I organized Copyright 2005 with Stallman, CC Canada, Digital Copyright Canada, etc. for 300 people so I know they’re interested).

I also liked the comment on our two solitudes, and was a bit sad Michael didn’t reckognize that fact we live with in Québec, more particularly in Montréal.