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dmaul, it is my understanding that very few books are sold after they have been out more than three years.
(I read not long ago that in regard to music, 80% of a compact disc's sales occur within eight weeks of its release.)
Instead of a "life plus fifty" rule, I would support a "five plus life" rule.
This would give the publisher and the heirs five years to make their money, which is almost always all they ever get anyway, in the event of either an author's death shortly after publication or a posthumous work.
If you will agree to my concept, I won't quibble with you whether the minimum term should be five or ten years. But for nearly all books, it will be the life of the author.
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