Public Domain Manifesto

The Public Domain Manifesto is an effort to describe the strengths of public domain, and to encourage support.

Some of the general principles:

The Public Domain is the rule, copyright protection is the exception.
Copyright protection should last only as long as necessary to achieve a reasonable compromise between protecting and rewarding the author for his intellectual labour and safeguarding the public interest in the dissemination of culture and knowledge.
What is in the Public Domain must remain in the Public Domain.
The lawful user of a digital copy of a Public Domain work should be free to (re-)use, copy and modify such work.
Contracts or technical protection measures that restrict access to and re-use of Public Domain works must not be enforced.

I recommend that you review the manifesto, and if you agree with it, show your support by signing it.