Yeah, a totally shitty world with those crappy pre-copyright amateurs like Shakespeare and without the great art of Justin Bieber. The horror, the horror.

I don't think Justin Bieber was being paid for the art which made him popular.

From what I hear he started out covering pop songs on YouTube. Exactly the type of infringement that SOPA/PIPA is trying to kill off.

I assume Shakespeare made his money from ticket sales to his shows.

There were no cameras in those days if there was somebody would simply record the show and distribute it, I would imagine Shakespeare would want some of that action himself.

Just because someone wants something doesn't mean they have a right to it.

I'd like to charge everyone who sees me when I walk down the street - I'd make a bundle - but I'd think society would be pretty stupid if they indulged me.

You really can't see the difference between that and somebody making money from your work (possibly more than you do) without providing you with any compensation?

Sorry but that isn't the discussion here. No one is saying it's ok to make money from other peoples work.

We are talking about normal consumers.

Do you even know how much great great great music gets created without ever making a single dime.

Leaving aside the rather obvious question of what makes you think your taste in music is superior to anyone else, how much MORE of that great, great, great music would get created if the artists didn't have to wash dishes for 10 hours a day to make rent and eat?

Every hour you have to spend working a day job is an hour you can't spend creating.

This is getting silly.

I am telling you that even with the music you like whatever that is there is plenty of great music that you never have heard of and never will. That's how it is in all genres of music.

Let's assume we are discussing modern music not Bach or something.

There are of course good musicians who distribute their music monetarily free but how much of it is explicitly copyright free (i.e libre not gratis)?

I know a number of aspiring musicians who if a large media company took their music and redistributed it under a different name with different people lip syncing to their vocals then boy would they be pissed.