Copyright for the grandkids?

Arguments over copyright will probably never end and librarians need to be informed of the legal and moral rights of people who write, draw or otherwise create content. There is a difference, however, between the moral rights of a creator of content and the legal rights of a corporation that controls the copyrights of many creators. Many new works and creative commentary on published materials are stifled by narrow and sometimes absurd restrictions. A new book about the Internet and its follies, Digital Barbarism, written by Mark Helprin, comes in for some thoughtful criticism by N.Y. Times columnist Ross Douthat. Anyone who has read through the long columns of comments appended to many news stories and blogs, will sympathize with Mr. Helprin's anger, but it's important to remember that a few of the comments will be thoughtful and offer new insights into any subject. Listening to the voice of the people is tedious, but in the long run we often discover that truth lies somewhere in the welter of words and is often worth seeking out. Our copyright laws need revision, but we need to listen to more voices than that of Mr. Helprin.