Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache
I don't think fiction books are so important that the copyrights should be removed so people can read for free.
Apache
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The issue isn't read for free, the issue is read at all. That's pretty much the point of public domain. It's not that stuff should be free, it's that stuff should be available rather than lost. In the copyright act of 1870, all authors who wished to be copyrighted were required to send two copies of their works to the Library of Congress so nothing was lost. It is a true pity that this is no longer in effect.
Imagine if you would, if you could get a copy of any book every copyrighted in the US? Who cares about the cost? If free bugs you, then why not change it so that once a book goes into public domain, then anyone can print it, but they have to pay a fee, some fair percentage of the price of the book, or a set fee, whichever is higher, to the library of Congress. While the author or the author's spouse is alive the fee goes to them (you can also throw in while the author's children are below the age of maturity if you like), afterwards it goes to the upkeep of the Library of Congress.