[LAU] ASCAP Assails Free-Culture, Digital-Rights Groups

[Gwenhwyfaer]

On 01/07/2010, Paul Davis <paul at linuxaudiosystems.com> wrote:
> Who has the right to control its expression? Nobody?

Yep, that sounds about right to me.

Now, if anyone wants to make money off it, I think Steve has a right
to expect to be given some of that money. (Indeed, one could argue
that if Steve's music helps someone pass the time as they tend their
crops, they have a moral duty to feed him should he turn up on their
doorstep.) But by and large we all agree that freedom of expression is
a basic human right - and freedom and control are necessarily
antonyms. So no, nobody has the right to control the expression of
Steve's composition.