He estimates that his organization will someday, as they collect photocopy royalties from more and more users, collect seven dollars each year for every man, woman, and child in Norway. Authors, especially authors of nonfiction works, would suddenly find their works profitable. More of these authors would continue in their careers as writers, and other capable writers would be attracted to the field. More books and journals would be published, the flow of information would dramatically increase, and respect for copyright would be largely restored. It's time for a thorough re-examination of the way that photocopy royalties are collected in America.
Authors fear voluntary licensing on the Internet, because they've been burned before.
Some combination of voluntary, collective, and compulsory licensing may be necessary to protect the integrity of copyright. The Authors League recommends that voluntary licensing on the Internet be monitored with extreme care. The Authors League supports the Working Group's suggested ban on machinery that defeats copy-protection systems. The League would like to see this taken a step further, however. Recently, a manufacturer proudly announced the development of a page-turning photocopying machine.