An open-source rival to Google's book project

Perhaps the other way on this point: "I think that some form of required licensing
after 15 years is reasonable with gradual
diminishing fee that reaches 0 at 35 years is
more than fair."

I basically agree with your points, except for that one. Shouldn't the cost go up not down? My thinking is:

The benefit to the public is diminished the longer the copyright.
(My argument is here:
http://www.nigeljohnstone.com/archives/2005/10/your_copyright.html )

The cost to the author is recovered in the earlier years, the longer he can milk the same work, the bigger the profit in the later years and the less the reward is related to the original work.

i.e. ever more profitable balanced by ever higher copyright registration fee.

The situation now is that a copyright holder can get free money which is not good:
If you're earning $2 million a year from "happy birthday to you" as Time Warner is reputed to do, and it costs you nothing, you'll lobby like hell to extend copyright.
An extra 20 years is $40 million in free money, well worth $4 million in lobbying & lube.

But that money is unearned, results in no extra jobs and gives TW a $40 million capital advantage over its competitors.; Posted by: Nigel Johnstone Posted on: 10/27/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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