Via Werner Ploberger - the sad tale of reconstructing (or not...) missing episodes of Dr. Who

We haven't much discussed the connection between culture and IP, especially copyright, although it has been an important theme, for example, of Larry Lessig's work. The point being that the sharing of ideas, themes, and common experience including art and music, is what makes up culture. IP and copyright, especially in its current excessive form, is a threat to the idea of culture - although judging by piracy statistics, culture appears to be winning. Christophe German directed my attention to a UNESCO study on diversity - meaning in this case cultural diversity - see especially page 10 in the executive summary where copyright is rightfully recognized as one of the primary threats to cultural diversity. I'd also like to direct your attention to his blog which in addition to discussing the broader legal and moral issues involving culture, discusses specifically the role of copyright law.