Hi Steve, Great post! Within the US legal system - fair use is a powerful doctrine. Sadly - this is not the case in other national jurisdictions. That said - I appreciate that your reflection is intended for an American audience.
Writing from outside the US - for me the important lesson for us should be the connection between free use and the first amendment to the use constitution. The free knowledge movement derives its meaning and purpose from “freedom of speech”. That's an important link.
If ideas could speak - I'm sure they'd say that they want to be free! Its in the interests of the progression of knowledge for knowledge to be free. But hey - I'm talking to the converted!
I'd also interested in Ken's question re how fair use is or can be applied in the digital domain. Its one thing to use a digital copy (photograph) of an artwork. What is the posit ion on digitising a copyrighted work under the fair usage doctrine?
Looking forward to the discussions. Cheers Wayne
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