On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:57:10 -0000, (Dave Platt)
wrote:


The reasoning is that by providing inventors and authors with a
*limited* protection of their creative works (i.e. exclusive rights,
for some period of time), it would motivate inventors to invent and
also to reveal their inventions to others in detail (the latter being
required for a patent) rather than keep their inventions secret.
Similarly, it would motivate people to write, create paintings, etc.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with a legislature composed of
lawyers who, when reminded that copyright was to be "for a limited
period" can, with a sraight face (and bulging pockets) say, "One
thousand years is a limit, is it not?"