--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Either we, as a society, decide that…" description: "\"Either we, as a society, decide that copyright is the greater value to society, and take active steps to give up private communications as a concept. E..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/rick-falkvinge-52264_ability_either-we-as-a-society-decide-that-copyr_2828785.jpg" --- # Either we, as a society, decide that copyright is the… ![“Either we, as a society, decide that copyright is the greater value to society, and take active steps to give up private communications as a concept. Either that, or we decide that the ability to communicate in private, without constant monitoring by authorities, has the greater value - in which…” quote by Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/rick-falkvinge-52264_ability_either-we-as-a-society-decide-that-copyr_2828785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/rick-falkvinge-52264_ability_either-we-as-a-society-decide-that-copyr_2828785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/rick-falkvinge-52264_ability_either-we-as-a-society-decide-that-copyr_2828785.jpg) > “Either we, as a society, decide that copyright is the greater value to society, and take active steps to give up private communications as a concept. Either that, or we decide that the ability to communicate in private, without constant monitoring by authorities, has the greater value - in which case copyright will have to give way.” [Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues society must prioritize either privacy or copyright, suggesting they are mutually exclusive. **In simple terms:** Choose between privacy and copyright value. Key Takeaway Decide which societal value to protect. Themes privacy copyright societal values Mood analytical debative Type philosophical policy-oriented When to use this quote - policy making - activist campaigns - public debates - legislative drafting Key Concepts Legal ethics digital rights Questions to Reflect On - How can privacy be protected without harming copyright? - What compromises exist between the two? A Different Perspective Both values can coexist with balanced policy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability to communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-communicate/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Copyright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copyright/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Judges decide upon copyright law. They decide upon trademark law. They decide upon scientific issues. They decide upon very complex technical issues on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/judges-decide-upon-copyright-law-they-decide-upon-trademark-law-they/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [I think the big difference between most countries and the U.S., is that governments are more straightforward now about their intentions to gather information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/i-think-the-big-difference-between-most-countries-and-the-u-s-is-that/) [Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/) > [I think, my own personal view is there should be higher and higher levels of autonomy; government should not interfere in setting up colleges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/i-think-my-own-personal-view-is-there-should-be-higher-and-higher/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [If markets are leading us in directions that we, as a democratic society, decide are not compatible with our vision of liberty or democracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/if-markets-are-leading-us-in-directions-that-we-as-a-democratic/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [Men and women are custodians of this society, and we both decide what's going to happen for our future. I feel that very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/men-and-women-are-custodians-of-this-society-and-we-both-decide-what/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Society will decide after the technology is created what we will and won't accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/society-will-decide-after-the-technology-is-created-what-we-will-and/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [There is inevitably a trade-off between staffing and safety, and as a society we must decide where that balance should be struck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-calder/there-is-inevitably-a-trade-off-between-staffing-and-safety-and-as-a/) [Simon Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-calder/) > [I've always been interested with the idea of technology and the way technology affects our ability to communicate - our ability to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-brambilla/i-ve-always-been-interested-with-the-idea-of-technology-and-the-way/) [Marco Brambilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-brambilla/) > [In a huge way, everything that I've done in my life has helped inform my ability to communicate with actors and direct them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/in-a-huge-way-everything-that-i-ve-done-in-my-life-has-helped-inform/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [The well-being of a neuron depends on its ability to communicate with other neurons. Studies have shown that electrical and chemical stimulation from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/the-well-being-of-a-neuron-depends-on-its-ability-to-communicate-with/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [Art is the ability to communicate through an intermediary and to convey one's feelings through an isolated object. It's inspiration and incubation. Putting my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/art-is-the-ability-to-communicate-through-an-intermediary-and-to/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [We hear a lot about the notion of objectivity, and I'm not sure I know what that is. I know what fairness is. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-turnley/we-hear-a-lot-about-the-notion-of-objectivity-and-i-m-not-sure-i-know/) [Peter Turnley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-turnley/) > [Coming back to a television series puts you back in the limelight and gives you a platform for your ideas. If you're not acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-weaver/coming-back-to-a-television-series-puts-you-back-in-the-limelight-and/) [Dennis Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-weaver/) > [The ability to communicate is not something we are born with. We have to learn it and earn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-ability-to-communicate-is-not-something-we-are-born-with-we-have/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) ## More by Rick Falkvinge > [Bitcoin will do to banks what email did to the postal industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-falkvinge/bitcoin-will-do-to-banks-what-email-did-to-the-postal-industry/) [Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) > [We safeguard the right to attribution very strongly. After all, what we are fighting for is the intent of copyright as it is described…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-falkvinge/we-safeguard-the-right-to-attribution-very-strongly-after-all-what-we/) [Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) > [Bitcoin represents a significant threat to the currency domination of the USA, which is the only thing propping up the nation’s status as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-falkvinge/bitcoin-represents-a-significant-threat-to-the-currency-domination-of/) [Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) > [Bitcoin is getting there but it’s not there yet. 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It was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-falkvinge/when-the-iron-curtain-fell-all-of-the-west-rejoiced-that-the-east/) [Rick Falkvinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) [Explore all 7 Rick Falkvinge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-falkvinge/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Either we, as a society, decide that copyright is the greater value to society, and take active steps to give up private communications as a concept. 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