This American Copyright Life: Reflections on Re-Equilibrating Copyright for the Internet Age

Abstract

This article calls attention to the dismal state of copyright’s public approval rating. Drawing on the format and style of Ira Glass’s “This American Life” radio broadcast, the presentation unfolds in three parts: Act I – How did we get here?; Act II – Why should society care about copyright’s public approval rating?; and Act III – How do we improve copyright’s public approval rating (and efficacy)?

Keywords: copyright, enforcement, file-sharing, norms