What is Lawrence Lessig's argument and how does he use evidence to support his stance?

In Lawrence Lessig's "Some Like It Hot," Lessig argues not for or against piracy, but instead argues that generations welcome forms of piracy from generations earlier. He argues this point effectively by citing specific historical examples in the entertainment industry where laws regarding patents of physical and intellectual property have been transgressed. The first of these examples is the actual creation of Hollywood, where filmmakers fled to the lawless West where Edison's patent would not hamper their ability to make movies. In addition, he points out numerous examples in the music industry where fighting over intellectual property has occurred and legislation had been written by Congress to compromise to "maximize the benefits while minimizing the wrongful harm it causes artist."

Lessig then applies this to the current dilemma in the music industry: P2P sharing. Like past examples, Lessig postulates the best way to solve this will happen over time and sudden sweeping change is not the correct response. Instead, he proposes that a system be set in place that allows for this maximization of public benefits with minimal harm to the artists that create the music. Although Lessig does not have a specific way to do this, he writes, "that balance will be found only with time."