Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcdy
I'd like copyrights based on the amount of time elapsed after the last publication (either paper or ebook). For example, if a book hasn't been published after about 20 years from its last publication, it would be declared public domain. Without such a time limit, the vast majority of currently copyrighted books (probably at least 95%) cannot be scanned and turned into free or cheap ebooks because of copyright problems, and will sit unavailable for anyone to read unless available from a public or private library.
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I have to agree that this would be the best way for a work to be enjoyed. It is not earning the writer or publisher anything while it is not available to be read unless a library has a copy lol.
I would not go so far as to say all rights if not published though. For instance, why should a book published for the last time in 1993 by a young author become completely public domain, loosing them the rights for tv, movie or other media sales?
Looking at bane or smashworks, many authors offer their early works, no longer being published in paper format, free. This in turn captures a new reader who will purchase the newer books in the series or other titles by the same author.