Quote:
Originally Posted by grannyGrumpy
I have only skimmed this thread (archived it to read at home at my leisure), and even before I read Hitch's post, I intended to vote for "Life + 20", to go on the assumption that a writer who dies early and unexpectedly might have minor children who need support until they reach their majority.
"Bind not the mouths of the kine that tread the grain." Writers, much like anyone else, surely need to feel that they are supporting their loved ones, and to know that that support can continue after their death. Take away that incentive, and things will get interesting (as in, may you live in interesting times.)
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Practically speaking the vast majority of books are published - once. They are on the shelves a few months then pushed off to make room for the next month's crop of books. Any money the author gets will come from those few months, year at the most. Then because of the long copyright the publisher who owns it won't publish it again and no one else can either. The book simply disappears and the author gets nothing. With a more reasonable copyright the author could at least spend a little time converting it to an ebook and at least make a few sales himself and the book wouldn't be lost in publishing limbo.