Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin8or
Yes, and each of those derivative works has its own copyright. The difference is that after 20 years, other people can also make derivative works of the original film. For twenty years, only 20th Century Fox can make sequels to Star Wars. That's a great incentive. After 20 years, competing studios can make their own alternative sequels to the original Star Wars. Everyone benefits.
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Is it really a benefit to the world at large for people to be able to make derivative works of fiction and movies sooner? Would society benefit from an endless supply of Star Wars movies and Harry Potter books and another zillion or so 50 shades knockoffs? Some would of course. I know people who have never read anything not Harry Potter. But would you or I? I don't see authors as benefiting overall. Sure the creative talent challenged ones could copy ideas and character names sooner etc. but would they be able to sell the books? The talented writers who now write books under license from a dead authors estate do okay as do the franchised/collaborated books like James Patterson's and Tom Clancy's. But many people look down on those.
And would not all of this derivative writing and movie making cut down on originality?
I think the movie making is less creative than it should be already. Too many sequels and spinoffs and the same casts being moved in block from one vehicle to another. Not that I blame them as it costs a lot to make a movie.
I would rather have 100 or so studios making at least slightly different movies than most of them doing spinoffs of other people's creations.
For books, there are new books published every day by new and established authors that are creative enough to not violate anyone's copyright. Some are good, some are bad and some are wonderful. And there are already thousands and thousands of PD characters and settings for the less talented to use.
Prices may go down, but I doubt that they would for the 'popular' books and outside MR I have never encountered anyone who is passionate about getting free books. Quite the opposite in my experience. Those of us who are privileged enough to earn a reasonable living don't resent having to pay money for a book any more than we resent having to pay money for lunch out or cup of coffee or a pair of shoes. We may bargain hunt, but if we want it and have the money we buy it. And for most people living in developed countries, there are a lot of sources for cheap or free books. As someone mentioned elsewhere, there are a lot of indigent people reading in libraries or on park benches. I would rather get on a bandwagon to get them decent living quarters to read in first and then perhaps get on one to get them more free books.
Helen