Let me try this again:
Shakespeare, yes, appropriated old folk tales. And AS SOON AS the two works here – Dr. Seuss and Star Trek – fall into Public Domain, then you can do what you will with them.
As both are still in copyright, this is a flagrant violation of copyright, for profit.
You’re quoting law, I’m explaining principle; I’m talking about a larger problem and you’re using the handy-dandy Internet Argument Flowchart (“Strawman!” “Subjective Opinion.”) to dissect what I’m saying because it disputes the idea that any creator can use any creation, regardless of ownership, at any time.
Again: Shakespeare didn’t have to worry about modern copyright law because we didn’t have it; the makers of this nonsense are infringing copyright for profit; they should be encouraged not to do so, or kept from doing so.
Finally, of course I’m sharing my subjective opinions. That’s what this is for. But before you break out the Libertarian ABC book, ask yourself: Why are you on the side of a bunch of ripoff artists* looking to line their pockets at someone else’s expense?
Public Domain is real, and good. But it doesn’t work like this, and wishing will not make it so.
