[bksvol-discuss] Re: Public domain
- From: Cindy <popularplace@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:21:18 -0800 (PST)
Yes, I agree that it doesn't seem right to have
different lengths of time before books et al are in
public domain. But longer periods undercopyright
protect the author and the author's estate. I think
the reason for longer ones is because, at least in the
U.S., the copyrights can be extended once or twice --
I don't remember (and didn't check -- sorry, Tony,
I'll leave that for you, smile). This allows the
author and his/her estate to continue to earn money
from his/her creative work.
Cindy
-- Tony Baechler <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi. One last thought that I forgot to mention.
> Recently Carrie mentioned
> a bunch of Agatha Christie plays that she can't
> submit because of copyright
> law. While Agatha Christie is still protected
> legally in many countries,
> this just shows the abusrdity of the current public
> domain law. In
> Australia for example, all authors who died on or
> before January 1, 1953 or
> 1952 are now in the public domain. In Canada, it is
> the life of the author
> plus 50 years, so all authors who died in 1955 or
> earlier are now in the
> public domain. Yes, that includes plays, books,
> music, or anything
> else. Let's take Agatha Christie. She died in
> 1976. That means that 50
> years after her death, all her works including plays
> will be public domain
> in Canada. In 70 years after her death, all works
> will be public domain in
> Australia and most other countries. In the US, it
> will probably be 120
> years from her death, so if we're lucky it might be
> in the year 2100 or
> so. Is it just me, or does anyone else find this
> totally ridiculous?
>
> What can people do? First, support groups like PG.
> Spread the word about
> them. Tell your friends. Give away CDs or DVDs.
> If there is a book you
> like from PG, put it on your site. Yes, you can
> legally do that. Make a
> Braille embosser file if you want. Tell your
> libraries and schools about
> them. Second, tell your congress person about it.
> Write them letters
> expressing your concern about the laws. Ask and beg
> that they get
> changed. The problem is that not enough people care
> and the publishers
> have enough money to buy longer and longer
> extensions to the copyright
> law. Pretty soon at this rate there will be no
> public domain left.
>
>
>
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