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gmw · 03-09-2011, 02:14 AM

I chose 50+ years for want of a better option. I think copyright should extend at least for the life of the author. Beyond that I'm open to argument, but inclined toward something between 20 and 50 years - BUT only with respect to items that were have previously been published (formally made available to the public). Anything that has not been published should maintain copyright in perpetuity ...

I do think that special provisions for orphaned items is appropriate - but by this I mean items for which there is no identifiable owner (not simply that the owner has been unable to find a publisher that will publish the works). I'd say 20 years from the death/termination of the last identifiable owner would be a suitable protection in such cases.

03-09-2011, 02:14 AM	#78
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I chose 50+ years for want of a better option. I think copyright should extend at least for the life of the author. Beyond that I'm open to argument, but inclined toward something between 20 and 50 years - BUT only with respect to items that were have previously been published (formally made available to the public). Anything that has not been published should maintain copyright in perpetuity ... I do think that special provisions for orphaned items is appropriate - but by this I mean items for which there is no identifiable owner (not simply that the owner has been unable to find a publisher that will publish the works). I'd say 20 years from the death/termination of the last identifiable owner would be a suitable protection in such cases.