Quote:
Originally Posted by Format C:
1. Copyright: I agree with you. Life is enough.
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No, no,
no,
NO,
NO!
Lifetime of the creator is a
terrible way to determine copyright length.
Much, much better is to have a fixed time from first publication. If we must, add in a "or the lifetime of the author, whichever is longer".
But lifetime of the author is not a good idea on its own. I think it's reasonable for an author to expect that his work (probably his best work) done in the last years of his life should provide some ongoing income for his heirs. It's certainly a valid possible source of encouragement to authors while alive.
It's the lifetime + X years that are the worst. Longest protection to poorest work. It's rare for writers to write (consistently) poorer stuff as they get older!