Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin8or
The biggest issue in mass digitization, IMHO, is the unconscionable lengths to which copyright's been extended. I hoped that the Google Books litigation would bring the problem into focus. 
[U.S. example follows but other countries are similar, AFAIK]
The US Constitution grants Congress the power "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
With that authority, Congress passed the Copyright Act of 1790, which granted a right of 14 years, and an optional extension of a second 14 years. It was a balance between authors' compensation and public enrichment.
In 1909, Congress doubled it to two 28-year terms. In 1976 Congress extended it to life + 50 years. As it now stands, the copyright term is:
life + 70 years for individuals, and 120 years for corporations.
From a maximum of 28 years to the present 120 years. The duration is all out of proportion to the purpose: to promote the public good. |
I agree. I think current copyright actually HINDERS creativity for the public good. What real reason is there for a best seller to get out and write that next novel? He's still riding fat and high off the one he wrote 10 years ago that just sold the movie rights...