On Thu, 13 Jun 2002, Lucky Green wrote:
The other half of the shears cutting away at the public's right to entertain themselves with the artwork they purchased in any way they please is represented by parts of the art culture of significant political clout, in particular in Europe. Bills are pending or have already passed, that make it illegal for a buyer of a work of art to simply dispose of the work, or use it as kindling in his fireplace, once he no longer desires to own it. No, you can't just burn that painting you bought from some street corner painter five years ago. Though you are permitted to give the painting back to the artist. Without compensation, of course.
the american artists are also trying to get this kind of "right" in place for themselves. The perspective isn't so much copyright as it is "leave it alone forever". But it amounts to the same thing.
While the European art circles clamoring for such moral right protection acts would undoubtedly denounce the assertion that they are working hand in glove with the MPAA's objective of dismantling the doctrine of first sale to the detriment of society, the two groups in fact are natural allies or pawns, depending on their level of awareness of the situation. Undoubtedly this has not been overlooked by the MPAA, though I suspect the European artists are blissfully unaware of how they have helped and continue to help to grease the MPAA's skids.
The american artists are certainly unaware of the connection. If the law forces the end to "art", is that such a bad thing? :-) Patience, persistence, truth, Dr. mike