It is strange, and indeed unfortunate, that the term ‘copyright’ is so uninspiring, because the subject-matter of copyright is inspiration itself: copyright is concerned with the creative output of authors, composers, artists and others who enrich the cultural and intellectual dimensions of life. It is the purpose of the copyright system, as it operates today, in accordance with principles which have been developed over the last century and a half, to ensure that cultural and intellectual works are created and disseminated as plentifully and as widely as possible.