Friedrich --

Many thanks for explaining the business history behind the pop-music business. I'd always wondered what the hell ASCAP and BMI were, and had supposed they were sinister cartels. Nice to know that I was right.

In old-fart moments (more and more frequent these days), I tell young people to go into copyright law. It'll be a happening field for decades; adjusting the laws pertaining to creation and ownership isn't going to be easy in the digital age, and the only people certain to do well are the lawyers.

In the midst of these disputes, my sympathies tend to be with the artists, although I try not to be too, too sentimental about this. But I'm a know-nothing -- or, given the couple of stories about copyright I helped out with, a know-little. You're a student of the issues. What direction would you like to see copyright law take as we move further into the age of perfect and easy replication?

Best,

Michael