Quote:
Originally Posted by Format C:
If you're not good enough to make money in 28 years, why should you be granted by law to try longer?
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If you are not good enough, why would anyone care?
And if the copyright term was lowered to 28 years how many would be happy?
Take myself as an example. Most of my favorite authors are still alive. Some have died fairly recently. In 28 years I will most likely be drooling in my bib in a retirement home if I am still alive.
And realistically, I cannot picture myself at the age of 20 or 30, waiting around for 28 years to read a specific book or group of books. Many of my favorite authors then would now be out of copyright, but I have been reading their books along with many that were public domain, and many more current books which I either borrowed or bought as circumstances or my means dictated. I wouldn't trade my lifetime's worth of reading enjoyment for a million free books today, even if I managed to read several thousand of them.
If copyright was life plus six weeks, there would be some who would bitterly complain that the author could live another 50 years, so they cannot get the book for free today.
Me I hope the author keeps on living and writing whether I like them or not.
Tastes change, I remember at one time being actually keen on L. Ron. Hubbard now I would have to be paid a substantial sum to read him, whether he was dead or alive. No reflection on his writing, but my tastes have changed.
Copyright length to me is irrelevant.
First I wish the authors a long and productive life, with wellbeing and prosperity. Whether I want to read their books or not.
Secondly I do not have the extreme thriftiness required or attention span to make it important enough to get a book for free to wait around for even one year to get one or more books for free, never mind waiting for somebody to die first. The concept eludes me.
How much happier would anyone be waiting only 28 years after an authors death instead of 50. Would you have borrowed it from a friend or the library or perhaps even bought it new or used by that time? Remember the author has to die before copyright even kicks in. Therefore, aside from the distateful connotations of waiting for someone to die so you can save a few dollars, no more books from said author.
Helen