Quote:
Originally Posted by GA Russell
However, when the author dies, there will be no further creation by him. For that reason, I believe that the term of a copyright should expire with the death of the author.
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I just made the same statement in another thread, but Elfwreck made some good points that made me rethink that.
If it expires immediately at death:
1. It discourages creating work late in life since they and their family will see little to nothing out of it if they die right as it comes out etc.
2. It discourages the family for publishing works posthumously if the copyright died with the creator as they'll see nothing out of it.
So I do think the copyright does need to go beyond death--but maybe it can apply to works that have been out for 10 years or less (late life works) and only last for 15-25 years past death rather than 50 or 75 as a compromise.
That way you don't have books written when they were 20 still under copy right 100+ years later as they lived to 100 and the copyright carries on etc.