copyright is theft

The troll you see on the picture is Anne B. Ragde, norwegian hack writer, and media personality. Why is she there, you say? I'll tell you why.

A new ad hoc movement of culture peddlers is festering in the norwegian public these days. A petition with 1600 signatures demands that norwegian politicians do more to stop illegal distribution of intellectual property. Ragde is one of them, and one of their most visible contributors as such. They were on the boobtube yesterday, and when I woke up today the troll was rearing its fuzzy head in the various newspapers too.

Their argument ofcourse is entirely economic. Understandably so. These people have long since stopped producing for the pure passion of it, and "are only in it for the money" as Zappa put it, ever so honestly. They have especially selected the norwegian liberal party as their opponent, as well as the Socialist Left and Red, while citing that only the conservative party has been clear in the defence of traditional copyright laws. It's quite ironic that these people, whom by norwegian standards can probably be considered intellectuals should wheigh their support in favor of their traditional oppononents. Norwegian intellectuals and culture workers are traditionally quite left leaning. But lately we have seen that the classic division between left and right is becoming blurred, especially with regards to this subject, and integration/immigration. (Amusing really. It is becoming increasingly evident that whether statism is left wing or right wing, doesn't really matter that much. The real issue at hand is fear of the individual's opportunities, and rights, to self expression. But that is a different blog waiting to happen.)

Anyway, copyright. My sympathy for these people, and their self rightous indignancy is next to none. I personally chose to give away all the music I make, and anything else I should happen to create. It enriches culture because it provides a low threshold access point to expressions, and contributes to a dynamic cultural development. If you like what I do, you can use and spread it, and even create your own works with basis in mine. But these statist/capitalist propertarians don't really care about that. It's jost a job to them. Their hours are capital, in the marxist sense, not a way of furthering human development, be it social or otherwise. I chose to work full time in order to maintain an income, and produce music in my spare time. These retards are unable to do that, or atleast unwilling. Of course I cannot demand, or expect, that all people should view all their actions in a larger ideological perspective, but I can certainly look down on them for their lack of long term perspectives and insights.

I can see their argument, in the sense that they want some sort of compensation for their efforts. But it falls short of any real logic, besides an exclusively materialistic one. Their compensation should be access to a rich and free culture. But I guess money is more important to them than any sort of cultural experience. But what can you really expect from hack writers and musicians whose highest aspirations are to be picked up by a Coca Cola comercial?

Property is theft, and that goes for intellectual property as well.

I'll finish this blog with a quote, taken from a truly GRATE band. ;)

She wants money.
What she wants?
She wants money.
What she wants?
She wants money.