Comments on: Improving Copyright Law: Baby Steps

By: Copywrong

Copywrong — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 11:02:49 +0000

Beyond the issue of orphaned copyrights is the issue of suppressed works. Most aren’t *actively* suppressed but are *passively* suppressed through inaction. The best example of the suppressed work is found in magazines and newspapers. How much revenue is the May, 1968 issue of “Fonebone Digest” currently earning for its copyright holder? Likely none. How difficult is it for an interested 3rd party to reprint the material? Very. Why? The copyright law is standing in the way of both parties. The old material sits unused earning no money and discourages new uses and revenue opportunities. By making reprint rights easier, the rights holder can realize new revenue on old stock, and the new user can find innovative ways to use the old material. This applies to old audio and video too.

As a first step, I’d propose something like the situation with songwriters: old material can be re-used by anyone for a nominal fee. How old? Let’s arbitrarily make it over 10 years. Under 10 years, the original copyright holder has total monopoly rights. After 10 years, the material can be used in an unrestricted manner for a small fee. Eventually, (after another arbitrary X years), even the small fee goes away, and the material is in the public domain. Or not, if the useage fees aren’t prohibitive.

Then there’s the issue of trademarks, but we can talk about that another time.

By: iceberg

iceberg — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:14:34 +0000

There is a great short story titled "Melancholy Elephants" which I've read and enjoyed years ago, which offers a critique of copyright and intellectual property laws.

The short story can be found here: Melancholy Elephants

By: Curt Howland

Curt Howland — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 03:25:51 +0000

Don’t forget Ernest Hollings (D-Disney)

By: Paul D

Paul D — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:17:43 +0000

Considering that all those ridiculous copyright laws in the US are bought and paid for by corporations, I don’t see what appealing to the Copyright Office is going to accomplish. Unless you can afford to pay jerks like Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) bigger bribes than the media companies do.