01-03-2011, 06:30 PM | #16 |
Illiterate
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I once knew a writer of TV sitcoms, have you ever sat through the credits on any TV show or movie and seen all of the writers’ names scroll by? Well, Bob was pretty much living on the “residuals” of all of those shows he wrote. In addition to his up front salary, every time someone aired a rerun, Bob would get a check. If one was at all prolific, it would be a tidy retirement!
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01-03-2011, 06:32 PM | #17 |
Wizard
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The last two (or is it three) laws extending copyright terms in the US have, purely by coincidence, of course, just happened to coincide with the first Mickey Mouse cartoon (Steamboat Willie, IIRC) being about to go in to the public domain.
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01-03-2011, 07:22 PM | #18 |
eReader
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I believe in Copyright. I also believe the current term in the US is too long. I like Life+50 as a good compromise.
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01-03-2011, 07:55 PM | #19 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
As for how long the term should be, I'd really like it to be based on evidence, rather than simply picking a number out of the air. I doubt that'll happen any time soon, though. |
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01-03-2011, 08:17 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
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01-03-2011, 08:47 PM | #21 | |
Is that a sandwich?
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01-03-2011, 09:18 PM | #22 |
NewKindler
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I think at the time it was extended, it may have been useful. Today technology and so many things change so quickly that something (technology based) manufactured and copyrighted even 5 years ago is almost useless when compared to modern technology. Faster processors, more memory, faster refresh rates, faster read and write rates, higher power cameras in smaller devices, and so on.
I do believe that as far as US copyright goes for technological, it needs to be cut in half effective for all works and items created after 1990, and most everything else set to death + 10 years OR 25 years after creation, whichever comes first. |
01-03-2011, 09:53 PM | #23 |
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Nobody creates in a vacuum. Everyone's creative lifework builds on their experiences, which involve other people and lines of people going back to the dawn of time, and the words, ideas, and writings of other people. Just as their works draw from the well of society, they should in time return to it.
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01-03-2011, 09:56 PM | #24 |
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01-03-2011, 10:04 PM | #25 | |||
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"Life plus" generally makes sense, in part because the creator can perish at any moment after the content is actually created. Does it makes sense that if the author dies 5 days after a book is published, it should go straight into public domain, thus relieving the publisher of any need to pay royalties for the book? For signatories of the Berne Convention, the minimum term is life + 50, presumably to provide a good incentive and cushion for the estate. In addition, most of Europe was at life + 70 at the time of the last extension in the US. The idea in the US was to both harmonize copyright terms, as well as keep a "trade balance" at least equal in the US. Like it or not, content is a big revenue generator for the United States, and that revenue is largely lost when a work goes into public domain. I might add that someone somewhere is going to bitch endlessly no matter what term is selected. Quote:
Contrary to your claim, today most "working stiffs" do get paid upon retirement by Social Security. You can also pass on revenue generators to descendants. Social Security has survivor benefits; life insurance may pay out; stocks, bonds, mutual funds, interest-bearing savings accounts, and other financial instruments do not evaporate upon the owner's demise, and can be willed to individual(s) and/or organizations. So, this really isn't much different. Quote:
Estates, descendants and families also don't necessarily exist forever. As such, stewards of a perpetual content would inevitably lose track and/or become too divided to be manageable. |
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01-03-2011, 10:19 PM | #26 |
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By the way, the most recent US extension was given a thorough review by the Supreme Court. 7-2 in favor.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/eldrdedo.pdf Decision, written by Ginsburg http://www.copyright.gov/docs/eldredd1.pdf Bryer's dissent http://www.copyright.gov/docs/eldredd.pdf Stevens dissent Last edited by Kali Yuga; 01-03-2011 at 10:36 PM. Reason: tweaked links |
01-03-2011, 10:24 PM | #27 | |
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In that case, I would want my wife to have the royalty payments if she outlives me. But I think that my children would be better off earning their bread from their own efforts rather than knowing their job is financially less meaningful due to that stream of royalty checks. Under the Berne Convention, my country and yours is obligated to protect copyright until the end of the 50th year following the author's death. There is no good justification I can see for having it go any longer. The fact that it goes longer that the treaty requires, in the US, is a shameful example of the power of lobbyists and campaign contributions. Note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyrig..._Extension_Act "Both houses of the United States Congress passed the [Copyright Term Extension] act as Public Law 105-298 with a voice vote,[4][5] making it impossible to determine who voted for or against." |
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01-03-2011, 10:33 PM | #28 | |
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Would it be 'sad' if a relative of someone who's work turns into a great hit but doesn't get part of it, a little but at that point (x years after the copyright expires) they shouldn't be expecting to cash in on it. If it didn't make money during the copyright period there shouldn't be an expectation of it making future heirs money, that is just 'bad luck'. |
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01-03-2011, 10:35 PM | #29 |
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Disney films, Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter - any chance these franchises will ever see public domain? Only in a parallel universe.
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01-03-2011, 10:37 PM | #30 |
Paladin of Eris
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Actually it is, society gives the copyright protection in exchange for it expiring after a time. Read the copyright clause in the US constitution, it says to promote the progress of, not to enrich authors and inventors.
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