|
For those who favor a copyright term based on the lifetime of the artist, why do artistic works deserve so much more protection than technical works? Patents (in the USA) are only for 20 years. Books copyrighted before I was born (1969) could still be protected after I'm gone, even assuming I live another 40 years.
Both patent and copyright protection are granted to foster creation and innovation. However, I think a much shorter limit for copyright could do more to achieve those purposes than the current one. For instance, the Harry Potter series. Assuming it stays moderately popular for the next couple decades (not guaranteed, obviously), what incentive does JKR have for creating anything new?
|