Alan John Patton wrote:
I understand why there are copyrights. People like money. Regardless of how much someone may or may not have they will usually want more.
Only partly true. While the current state of copyright law is a result
of mainly corporate greed, the true nature of copyright, I believe, is
benefitial to society.
Here's my take: An artist creates something that benefits society.
Society, upon request and upon certification(1) that the creation is
original enough, grants a temporary protection of the work(2). In
return, the society owns that work completely and wholey without
restirction when the protection expires.
Now, examining today's situation, creations are protected for the life
of the artist PLUS 70 years(3). That means that the artist never has to
exchange his/her work for the protection the society provides. That is
simply not reasonable.
-jb
(1) Copyright originally had to be applied for, just like patents
(2) Originally 14 years + 14 more IF the creator was still alive and
applied for an extension when the first term expired.
(3) In 1976 copyright was retroactively extended to Life + 50 years. In
1996, Life + 70 years. 70-50=20=1996-1976. Ergo, US copyright may never
expire again.
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