The two natural states of "intellectual property" are public domain and trade secret. Everything else exists only because of legal systems creating new concepts.
My problem is that copyright is misapplied:
"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times
to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
Discoveries."
To my understanding, congress has no authority to issue copyright legalities for things which do not advance science and the useful arts (practical industry, etc). Happy Birthday does not fall under either of those categories.
"If you don't believe in copyright, what do you think is my economic incentive to create original work, or anyone else's to commission/purchase such work?"
Plenty of works are created without direct economic incentive associated with copying the work. Just look at non-commercial YouTubers or open source projects. Music, movies, etc, still come into being. Personally, I would trade the existence of higher-production media for more sane copyright laws.
My problem is that copyright is misapplied:
To my understanding, congress has no authority to issue copyright legalities for things which do not advance science and the useful arts (practical industry, etc). Happy Birthday does not fall under either of those categories."If you don't believe in copyright, what do you think is my economic incentive to create original work, or anyone else's to commission/purchase such work?"
Plenty of works are created without direct economic incentive associated with copying the work. Just look at non-commercial YouTubers or open source projects. Music, movies, etc, still come into being. Personally, I would trade the existence of higher-production media for more sane copyright laws.