Fair Use Worth More Than Copyright To Economy

Dotnaught writes "The Computer and Communications Industry Association — a trade group representing Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo, among others — has issued a report (PDF) that finds fair use exceptions add more than $4.5 trillion in revenue to the U.S. economy and add more value to the U.S. economy than copyright industries contribute. "Recent studies indicate that the value added to the U.S. economy by copyright industries amounts to $1.3 trillion.", said CCIA President and CEO Ed Black. The value added to the U.S. economy by the fair use amounts to $2.2 trillion."

Aha! So if it's worth more...

[erroneus]

...how much would you pay for your fair use rights?

Re:I don't get it

[stefanlasiewski]

Doesn't fair use mean you don't pay for content? Where is all this money coming from?

Hey man, every time some yahoo walks down the street singing "Free Bird [wikipedia.org], our national value is improved by $0.10. Don't knock it!

Re:The difference

[Arceliar]

It's not a few people getting a slice of the pie. One group rapes the pie, then tells us they've eaten it all.

There's still plenty to slice there, I just wouldn't want to eat it.

Re:I don't get it

[semiotec]

and tomorrow's headline:

"Copyright groups claim study shows unlicensed usage of copyright materials is costing US $2.2 trillion."

Re:Primate behavior...

[pipingguy]

there is a tremendous drive for primated (most mammals) to take as much as they can possibly get away with

I'd have replied sooner (and I'm typing this slowly) but I can't get my other hand out of this damn jar.

Re:I don't get it

[The One and Only]

If money isn't wealth in your eyes, can I have your money? If you honestly believe money is not a form of wealth, email me (there's a challenge/response setup you'll have to pass through) and we can arrange something. After all, if money isn't wealth, you would be just as wealthy if you gave me all your money as you are now. I think you're trying to say that not all wealth is money. That's more to the point, and quite different from what you've been saying.

My concerns are for the precision of the discourse--they are not for or against any of your conclusions.

Re:The value of Shakespeare alone...

[kamapuaa]

I'm guessing the ability for High Schools to freely perform Shakespeare adds a whole lot less than $4.5 trillion dollars to the US economy. By comparison, the GDP of France is $1.8 trillion dollars.

This study suggests that about 35% of the $13.1 trillion US economy comes from Fair Use. Despite the immense economic import of High School Drama Productions, I'm a bit suspicious.

Check out some footage

[Anonymous Coward]

Check out some footage of elderly people paying for food with wheelbarrows of money when the USSR fell.

Yeah, I tried - but Disney owns the copyright for that.

Re:ok

[cthulhuology]

In the first case, Britney Spears doesn't get paid, and perhaps stops producing music. In the second, 50,000 kids learn physics, maybe grow up and write their own textbooks.

Talk about a win win situation!

Re:ok

[PhxBlue]

Calculate the benefit to us all from the outcome of such unrestricted sharing. In the first case, Britney Spears doesn't get paid, and perhaps stops producing music.

Kids learning physics, allowing America to stay competitive: $90.2 billion
Britney Spears getting out of the music business: Priceless