Clarion Communications

Archive for the ‘Ethics’ Category

The copyright in music debate creates an opportunity to re-think the purpose of copyright and similar laws, such as patent protection. Neither copyright nor patents had an illustrious beginning. Used by the powers in authority as an attempt to either limit free speech or raise money, the laws had a purpose to protect the position of those in authority. In other words, they were used to protect a monopoly.

More recently laws such as copyright, patents and trademarks are used to create monopolies not of political power but of economic power. Music writers sell their compositions to music publishers who invest
the time and money in print and marketing to create sales. The publishers and shareholders want a return on their investment. They are clearly not happy if someone gets access to the same product without paying for it. Book writers do the same.

So do hamburger makers. Read the rest of this entry »

Around the world, governments big and small have reduced their subsidies to the arts as a means of reducing deficits. Not surprisingly, the beneficiaries of those subsidies are trying hard to retain as much taxpayer money as they can.

For some of us, the arts world has become politicized. Artists of various kinds are often at the forefront of social change, such as Wagner was in his attempt to create revolution through music. (See the book, Dionysus Rising , by E. Michael Jones for details). Christian moral standards are challenged in the form of shapes, form, sounds and sight. The result is that the arts have contributed to the breakdown in Christian culture.

A consequence of the art subsidies has not been better art, if we judge art by its public acceptance. The mere fact that subsidies exist is evidence that some artists cannot operate in a voluntary marketplace. Whereas Abba or the former Beatles made it big without government aid, other artists would starve or find another profession without subsidies.
Read the rest of this entry »

In 2005, Spain was in the news, again. It may be of little interest to us, except it raises a moral dilemma that plagues the world: copyright.

I can think of no topic that gets people’s backs up so quickly. The idea that people should actually own something and protect it by law is under challenge. Especially if that property is “intellectual” property.

Imagine for a moment that you wrote a song, a popular one at that, and you’re making good royalties from the recording company who had contracted with you to market the product. But there are some individuals who reject the notion that you and the record company should make such a deal. Read the rest of this entry »

Whoever said business was easy was either a liar or a fool. Business is a challenge. That’s why it pays well.

But nothing challenges so much as the ethics of business. I have written on this before, but in this instance I’m going to explore some ethical challenges. They occur frequently in business, and there are no glib answers.

The first ethical challenge was created by Charles, excellent business manager and engineer. He began working as a business consultant but took a dislike to his employer who he felt did not carry enough integrity in their business dealings. Read the rest of this entry »