Some perspective on the terms of traditional publishing contracts:
http://www.validationpublishing.com/...3/07/1888.html
Quote:
If a twenty-five-year-old writer signed a typical publishing contract (LIFE PLUS 70 YEARS) in 1888 and lived to be eighty, these are some of the events that took place in the world the year he or she would have signed that contract, which would still be enforceable today.
Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Valley of Fear"
National Geographic Society founded (Washington, DC)
"Jack the Ripper" butchers 2 more women, Liz Stride & Kate Eddowes
John Reid of Scotland demonstrates golf to Americans
Heavyweight Boxing champ John L Sullivan draws Charlie Mitchell in 30 rounds
English Football League established
Eastman Kodak forms
Queen Victoria grants William Mackinnons Imperial British
California gets its 1st seismograph
Democrats nominate Grover Cleveland for president
Congress creates Department of Labor
First (known) recording of classical music made, Handel's Israel in Egypt on wax cylinder.
1st organized rodeo competition held, Prescott, Ariz
1st beauty contest (Spa, Belgium), 18 yr old West Indian wins
National Geographic magazine publishes for 1st time
Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie).
John J Loud patents ballpoint pen
Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony premieres in St Petersburg
Stanley's expedition reaches Fort Bodo, East-Africa
Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear
P.T. Barnum says, "There's a sucker born every minute."
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Says a lot about copyright length, eh?