Lessig - Free Culture

I'm only half way, but this has been a really helpful book in terms of research, pointing me to court cases, practical case studies and statistics that support the need to re-consider the scope and function of copyright law.

From the introduction:

"A free culture is not a culture without property, or in which artists don't get paid. A culture without property, or in which creators don't get paid, is anarchy, not freedom."

Case Studies:

Disney - Walt Disney took stories from the public domain and added his own 'magic' though animation and sound recording (e.g. Snow White, Cinderella, Bambi). Steam boat Willie (which sparked Mickey Mouse as a character) came as a direct parody of Steamboat Bill, a film released in the same year.  After his death, the Disney Corporation were one of the strongest campaigners to change the term of copyright to limit those who want to create in the same way today. 

Betamax - Disney and Universal shut down Sony's Betamax as it had the potential to record copyrighted content. Today this functionality is considered fine. 

Interesting facts:

For its first 100 years, America did not honour foreign copyrights. (But today are tough on developing nations flouting theirs) 

If every download were a lost sale...then the industry would have suffered a 100% drop in sales last year, not 7.6

Fears of technology:

Valenti - Tapeworms 

Quotes:

Thomas Jefferson - 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.'

Timeline:

Public Domain born 1774