Copyrights and such...

The troops of Altmark-Uberheim arriving on the field shortly after
daybreak, 21st March 1739.

The 'Space Marine' gig has generate a lively exchange of views in this and one or two other blog spots.  On the whole subject of patents, copyrights, trademarks and 'intellectual property' so-called, my view is that the whole system needs a global judicial review with the aim of wholesale liberalization.  I have no quarrel with the notions of copyright etc, but it is my belief the Fat Cattists abuse the system, enriching themselves at everyone else's expenses, claiming the while to be looking out for the little guy.

Yeah, right.  Ask James Taylor about his relationship with Warner Bros, to take a sample instance.

Consider this little lyric:

Average Guy

I always have been mediocre,
Just an ordinary joker.
I was swallowing my pride,
My soul shrivelled up inside.
I made no try for fame,
Like everyone else I wanted to be the same,
The middle ground I've staked my claim:
I'm just an average guy.

I never had much real ambition,
Never sought for recognition,
I never wanted to fly so high,
So I didn't even try.
I never strove to make my name;
I never courted popular acclaim;
And so I am what I became:
I'm just an average guy.

This ditty can be sung, and whistled, I daresay, to the tune of John Lennon's Jealous Guy.

Imperial troops arriving upon the field shortly before mid-morning
21st March 1739.

Aside from the acknowledgement - a common courtesy - that this parody owes something to Mr Lennon's hit number, what, if anything, else do I owe?  What if I were actually to sing the thing.  Out loud, I mean, possibly even in public?  What if I were to record the thing on DVD for commercial sale (OK let's gloss over the likelihood or otherwise of worthwhile sales)?  If royalties were due for the use of Mr Lennon's tune, what then does that say about the legitimacy of parody as a literary or musical art form?

Meanwhile, the pictures are a foretaste of the 'final' battle for Ulrichstein.  The tabletop action had to be suspended owing to the general decrepitude of both players, the one being hospitalised for a week or so for quite a serious illness, the other having various consultations over the same period with doctors, dentists, podiatrists, audiologists and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all...