Wouldn’t removing copyright just lead to more “milking the same topic”? I don’t ...

falcor84 · 2026-09-01T13:48:56

I can assure you that people had original ideas before the invention of copyright 300 years ago.

andsoitis · 2026-09-01T13:58:17

> people had original ideas before the invention of copyright 300 years ago

Not in dispute but that's also not the point being argued.

The argument is:

a) whether copyright kills original ideas. I don't think it does but would love to understand what the mechanism is if you think otherwise.

b) whether removing copyright would lead to more "milking of same old topics" in movies. I think the answer is self-evidently yes.

inglor_cz · 2026-09-01T15:07:09

Whether removing copyright would lead to more "milking of same old topics" in movies. I think the answer is self-evidently yes.

This is not self-evident to me, at least as far as "milking" goes. Inspiration is not the same as milking. I specifically use the word "milking" for the sort of low-level repetitive quasi-effort that the cinemas are full of.

OTOH if someone takes, IDK, Don Quijote and rewrites it into a space opera, it might actually be genuine fun, even though the old idea was there as a foundation.

andsoitis · 2026-09-01T15:22:14

> Don Quijote and rewrites it into a space opera, it might actually be genuine fun

Don Quixote is in the public domain. Copyright isn’t holding back adaptations.

inglor_cz · 2026-09-01T15:29:11

I know, but my point (I could have made it clearer) is that you cannot do the same with Geralt or Frodo Baggins.