Free for a Fee

It’s a post-SOPA world. But the question is, what does that mean for the future?Content companies used to getting their way on Capitol Hill got humbled last January when an unprecedented wave of public protest shut down the SOPA and PIPA proposals that would have regulated online copyright. Now that the public has been awakened to the issue, those interested in a more balanced copyright system are thinking over their strategy. 

“Everything is on the table, including copyright terms,” said Gigi Sohn, the president of Public Knowledge, speaking at a panel at CES 2013. “Let’s put it to those who want greater, longer, stronger CR enforcement … why shouldn’t we have some balance? Let’s turn the clock back and think about the original need for copyright.”