Something most people probably aren’t aware of is that the iconic “I Have Dream” speech is not readily available to listen to or view.

That amazing speech by Martin Luther King Jr., which is regarded as the most influential speech of the 20th century of American history, is owned by the King estate.

Despite it being broadcasted Aug. 28, 1963, to a massive gathering of civil rights supporters at the Lincoln Memorial, it has been ruled to be a limited publication, as opposed to a public publication.

Mister Maestro Inc. and Twentieth Century-Fox Record Company recorded the speech and offered it for sale. King took to legal channels, declaring — a month after he gave it — that the speech was copyrighted and sought to end unauthorized sales of records of the speech.

The King estate has sued both CBS and USA Today for unauthorized use, and the speech remains in the non-public domain, with bits and pieces only being available under the laws of “fair use.”

With the recent unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, a 30-foot granite statue in Washington, it is high time the King estate released the speech into the public domain.

Though the King estate has said it “… has always supported providing access to the speech and to the video for educational purchases and encourages interested persons to contact the King Center in Atlanta,” wouldn’t it be better to now allow unrestricted access?

The ruling that restricted access to the speech is based on copyright law from 1909, not the 1975 copyright law we adhere to today. Times have changed, and some things also must change to accommodate.

Are media outlets, films or other sources really going to damage the speech or cause such unnecessary monetary gains to warrant the continued hold of copyright?

His speech should be available at the click of a mouse to any youth or adult that might find new inspiration in those words from 48 years ago, especially considering the new influence this memorial to King might have on future generations.

Having to wait for permission for education purposes is a wait too long. Great speeches, poems, works of art presented to a public audience all ought to be available to all people at all times so that their dramatic influence can be felt and inspiration can be drawn in any way from them.

The King family was not left with much money after his death, but this speech is not the family’s solitary breadwinner. It is a piece of American history that has and will continue to lead people toward a better world.

The government should not step in and try to take the speech, but restricting access to it is no longer acceptable. The King estate should open those 17 minutes of history up to everyone at any time.