COM 557 Final Examination, Fall 2003
Dear Mr. Clemens,.....
As we studied in class, the debate between advocates of thick copyright that seems to favor the "artist" and the supporters of thin copyright that seems to favor "society" has become more complex with the advent of digitization.
Mark Twain (Samuel Longhorne Clemens, 1835-1910) had an interesting relationship to the theory and practice of copyright. During his career, he articulated preferences for "thin" copyright as a young writer and for "thick" copyright as he became more successful commercially. He also lived his life in an era of technological innovation which included his own contribution to the invention of the typewriter.
The hungry Twain | 
The successful Twain |
Final Examination Assignment
Write a letter to Mark Twain informing him of how copyright has evolved since his death in 1910. Make sure you tell him how you feel about his contributions to the ongoing debate. Be explicit about your position on the underlying issues (such as authorship as property rights, corporate ownership, copyright beyond the life of the author, and the analog/digital conundrum, etc.). Offer him competing experts (in other words, cite your sources).