Burgeoning technology has had a tremendous influence on literature and creativity and promises to continue such influence. The number of works and the subject matter protected by copyright is also expanding, but we must be careful lest the effect be to destroy creativity. Compulsory licensing of recordings, television programs, and other media productions, with concomitant government regulation and intervention, is becoming more popular as well as more ominous in its infringements on individuals' control of rights to their creative output. In addition, the author's one-to-one relationship with the reader is being invaded by increasing numbers of middlemen who control access to the media, to the point that authors may need collective organizations to protect their rights to fair remuneration. The role of the federal government is expanding to encompass regulatory standards, royality rates, disputes over distribution of statutory royalties, and the means by which authors organize for payment of royalties. Those who make decisions must be aware of the dangers facing independent authorship in the next decade. (LS)