The idea of alternatives to copyright should not sound strange. There already is a vast amount of work supported through universities, private foundations and different levels of government. While the existing channels of funding are not sufficient to replace copyright-supported work, they can be expanded to fill the gap.One route would be to allow individuals a modest refundable tax credit — an artistic freedom voucher AFV — that would allow them to give $75-$100 a year to support creative work. This money could either go directly to the worker or to an intermediary that supports specific types of creative work e.g. an intermediary may finance action films, jazz music, or mystery novels.

via Dean Baker: The Surefire Way to End Online Piracy: End Copyright.The idea of alternatives to copyright should not sound strange. There already is a vast amount of work supported through universities, private foundations and different levels of government. While the existing channels of funding are not sufficient to replace copyright-supported work, they can be expanded to fill the gap.One route would be to allow individuals a modest refundable tax credit — an artistic freedom voucher AFV — that would allow them to give $75-$100 a year to support creative work. This money could either go directly to the worker or to an intermediary that supports specific types of creative work e.g. an intermediary may finance action films, jazz music, or mystery novels.

via Dean Baker: The Surefire Way to End Online Piracy: End Copyright.