When it comes to new ideas about copyright, Derek Khanna is a very good looking person. In fact I’m reasonably sure this particular tweet was actually composed by his perfect hair. For the uninitiated, Khanna is the new poster boy for conservatives against artists’ rights, a career he effectively created for himself when he wrote a thoroughly uninformed memo for the RSC (Republican Study Committee) on revising copyright. The memo was retracted and Khanna was fired from his position, but I suspect that was the plan. After all, the memo was his public application to the Holy Anti-Copyright Empire, and he’s been on the lecture/article-writing circuit ever since. Also, he was voted one of DC’s best looking young republicans or some damn thing, so I’m not kidding about the poster boy reference.
Anyway, in case any readers were concerned that vapid and cute were on the wane in America, you need look no further than this tweet by Khanna suggesting a follower NOT read The Great Gatsby because it is not yet in the public domain in the U.S. Yeah, it’s one of those things that are so stupid they defy comment. I suppose I shouldn’t pick on Derek. After all, Fitzgerald wrote in this hard-to-find novel that yearns to be freed of its legal shackles that “Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.” I guess I just don’t have infinite patience.
As for Khanna’s response to the follower’s question, I welcome any and all interpretations of what it might possibly mean.
